All Entries Tagged With: "business development"
VALPAK EYES RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITIES FOR EXPANSION
ST. PETERSBURG, FL -Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced today it is looking to further grow its brand in the Narragansett Bay area, which includes Providence, Warwick and Cranston. The company currently mails to as many as 140,000 homes in the Ocean State, but is looking to expand its reach to 230,000 homes that will receive its signature Blue Envelope.
The U.S. Census Bureau lists Providence as the state’s most populous city, making the location a target expansion market for Valpak. Growth rate data from the American Community Survey also indicates that within the past five years, Providence, Warwick and Cranston have all emerged as the Ocean States’ top 10 fastest growing cities – with Providence and Cranston leading the list as the top two cities. Additionally, the Providence-Warwick Metropolitan area continues to earn national recognition, such as a Forbes.com ranking for Best Places for Business and Careers and Cost of Doing Business.
“The Providence metropolitan area offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to capitalize on the local economic growth,” said Shak Turner, Valpak’s director of franchise sales. “It’s exciting to know that Valpak, as a leading direct marketing company, can assist local businesses in their own economic growth by offering services through our popular mailer, along with our vast suite of digital advertising tools.”
A leader in cooperative direct mail, Valpak mails coupons to nearly 39 million demographically targeted households per month in 45 states and four Canadian provinces. Today, in addition to its flagship Blue Envelope, Valpak offers its business customers an impressive portfolio of digital advertising products including valpak.com, Smartphone apps, Google partnerships, website development, mobile web optimization and reputation management.
With more than 25 million Americans using couponing apps each month, Valpak’s digital offerings have been a big draw for new franchisees. Digital coupon use is on the rise, and ample gains are projected in 2016. In the past year, Valpak’s print offerings have also expanded with on-pack advertising and circulars.
Ideal candidates for Valpak franchise ownership should possess a desire to join a trusted, industry-leading brand, work within a proven franchise system, develop relationships with local businesses and have a comfort level with selling new, digital technologies. Franchisees should also possess a minimum liquidity of $75,000, and a minimum net worth of $150,000.
For more information on Valpak franchise opportunities, please contact Shak Turner at
shak_turner@valpak.com or 727-399-3091 or visit www.valpakfranchising.com.
Global Investor Forum names Jennifer Rousseau to Advisory Board
Current and Future State of Marine Renewable Energy in MA: SNEEF Program Nov. 10
Fall River, MA– “The current and Future State of Marine Renewable Energy” will be the topic at the next Southern New England Entrepreneurs Forum (SNEEF) on Thursday, November 10, 5:30 p.m., UMass Dartmouth Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, 151 Martine Street, Fall River.
John Miller, Executive Director of the Marine Renewable Energy Collaborative (MREC), will discuss the importance of developing clean, renewable energy from the ocean waters of New England how that will drive innovation and creation of jobs in the Commonwealth.
MREC is collaborating with local communities to develop tidal power test sites. Working with Edgartown and several universities, MREC is developing a tidal power test site in the waters between Martha’s Vineyard and Muskeget Island, and another test site is being set up in the Cape Cod Canal. Developers need a place to test their turbines, but it is expensive to do so in open water offshore. These test sites can offer a convenient and cost-effective testing alternative. MREC is a nonprofit dedicated to developing ocean renewable energy.
The potential for tidal power is great, but the engineering and economics have a long way to go, especially in the U.S. Massachusetts has a cluster of world class marine science and engineering organizations, many of them located on the Cape, that have set the standard for global ocean innovation.
Cost is $20 in advance, $25 at the door, including a dinner. Become an annual SNEEF member for only $75 and attend free. The SNEEF program is open to the public.
Rhode Island Foundation accepting applications for $300,000 Genius Grants
PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Foundation is accepting applications for $300,000 grants to develop, test and implement innovative ideas that have the potential to dramatically move Rhode Island forward. The 2017 Innovation Fellowship program focuses on proposals that increase or improve civic engagement.
“We are marking our 100th anniversary with a year-long celebration of community. As we come to the end of our centennial, we could think of no better tribute than to encourage Rhode Islanders to think creatively about what that means to them,” said Neil Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “With this targeted emphasis, we hope to engage and inspire people to become agents of change and progress.”
This is the sixth consecutive year that the Foundation has offered the fellowships, which are made possible through the vision and generosity of philanthropists Letitia and John Carter.
“By encouraging bold thinkers to bring their best ideas to life, Letitia and John Carter bolster our state’s reputation as a home of creativity and resourcefulness,” said Neil Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO.
Up to two recipients will receive up to $100,000 a year for three years. Preference will be given to proposals with the potential to generate the greatest good for the greatest number of Rhode Islanders, a small idea that has the promise to be built to scale or new approaches to long-standing challenges.
“Letitia and I believe deeply in the capacity of everyday Rhode Islanders to solve the issues that affect our state. We are committed to making our state a better place to live and hope the public is inspired to submit proposals with the potential to lead the way,” said John Carter.
The Foundation will also give priority to applications that propose a new, novel or re-energized approach that has not been tried meaningfully in Rhode Island, the unique fit of the fellowship for the idea and the idea’s potential to generate excitement within a broader community and leverage resources from other sources.
Only individuals may apply. Although applicants do not have to be residents of Rhode Island when they apply, they must commit to living in Rhode Island during the term of their fellowship. All the eligibility requirements are posted on the Foundation’s website at rifoundation.org.
The deadline to apply is Fri., Dec. 16. The initial, one-page application asks applicants to summarize their idea in no more than 150 words and to describe how it would promote civic engagement. An informational session for potential applicants is scheduled for Mon., Nov. 14.
Steinberg will chair the selection committee. The other members are Elan Babchuk, director of innovation at Clal – The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership; Central Falls School Supt. Victor Capellan, Theresa Moore, president of T-Time Productions; Aidan Petrie, co-founder and chief innovation officer at Ximedica; Rhode Island College President Frank Sánchez, Dan Shedd, president of Taylor Box Company; and Leslie Taito, senior vice president of corporate operations at Hope Global.
In February 2017, the selection panel will ask a group of semi-finalists to submit a more detailed application and a short video. The Foundation expects to announce the winners in April.
The five previous rounds of fellowships generated more than 1,450 applications. The 2016 recipient is Ray Two Hawks Watson.
Watson is boosting the state’s tourism industry and improving social cohesion by capitalizing on Rhode Island’s cultural heritage, history and diversity through his Providence Cultural Equity Initiative.
The other previous recipients are Amy Bernhardt, David Dadekian, Adrienne Gagnon, John Haley, Daniel Kamil and Emily Steffian, Soren Ryherd, Dr. Lynn Taylor and Allan Tear.
The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2015, the Foundation awarded $41.5 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.
