Support our Small Businesses – Shop Local
Part of what makes Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard so special is the diverse mix of small businesses that call this community home. Since the beginning of 2020, these businesses have been tested financially and operationally, as temporary shutdowns and new safety protocols were implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In January of 2021, the Cape Cod Commission and Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce conducted their final business impact survey which helped give a better understanding of the local impacts. Across the 450 businesses surveyed, over 50% saw decreases in revenue ranging from -10% to -75% in all four quarters in 2020 compared to 2019. Thankfully, due to their resiliency and adaptiveness, these small businesses have persevered and are thriving once again. Whether it was switching to contactless deliveries, offering curbside pick-ups, adopting new revenue streams, or instituting new safety measures, each individual business had its own innovative solution.
Part of what makes small businesses so important is their substantial positive impact on the local economy. A study conducted by the small business advocacy group, Love Live Local, found that retailers and restaurants on Cape Cod return close to 50% and 55.7% respectively, of all revenue to the local economy, compared to national chain retail stores which contribute an average of 13.6% of their revenue to local markets. In addition, retailers and restaurants on the Cape provide 75% and 20% or more jobs per square foot respectively, relative to nationally owned businesses.
With the holiday season fast approaching, now is a great time to show your support of small businesses by shopping local. If you’re not sure where to start, Small Business Saturday is coming up soon on November 27th and is a great way to give back to the businesses that support our community. If you’re a small business owner, or you know someone who is, check out some of the energy efficiency services, resources, and initiatives we provide to businesses below!
No-Cost Energy Assessments
The Compact offers no-cost energy assessments for eligible small businesses to help cut down on energy and operating costs. Participating businesses receive customized energy efficiency recommendations for quick low-cost energy-saving improvements and longer-term upgrades. The program offers robust incentives for a wide variety of energy savings measures so each business can find improvements that are tailored to their specific needs at little to no cost. Call 1-800-797-6699 or visit our online portal to sign up today.
If you have a contractor or vendor you prefer to work with, still reach out and start a discussion with us, as we have a customer-directed option that can help you access many of the same benefits as going through a business energy assessment. Visit our Customer Directed Option webpage to learn more and view available incentives.
Commercial Kitchen, HVAC, and Lighting Equipment
To help with the upfront costs of purchasing high-efficiency energy upgrades, the Compact offers incentives for a variety of commercial kitchen, HVAC, and lighting equipment through participating dealers and distributors. For commercial kitchen and lighting equipment, you’ll receive instant incentives on qualifying products like dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, interior and exterior LEDs, and more. If you’re interested in upgrading your HVAC equipment, we have a range of incentives on different HVAC and heat pump systems that are designed to help optimize your business’s heating and cooling system. Visit our Business Offers Page for more information on the incentives available for these types of equipment.
Business Energy Savings Guides
Finding up-to-date information on how to keep your business running efficiently can sometimes be difficult. That’s why the Compact has a dedicated Business Resources page that contains valuable instructions and resources that can help your business realize the benefits of becoming more efficient. We’ve compiled a variety of industry-specific guidance, brochures, and case studies on energy-saving tips so you can find exactly what you’re looking for. Whether you have questions about winter preparations, daily maintenance tasks, or specific equipment issues, the Compact has you covered.
Main Streets Initiative
In partnership with the Cape and Vineyard Towns and Chambers of Commerce, we offered local no-cost energy assessments through our Main Streets effort. Since the inception of this initiative back in 2019, we’ve helped hundreds of businesses install instant savings measures like LEDS, programmable thermostats, faucet aerators, and more. In 2021 alone, we had close to 500 participants, helped businesses realize over 1.5 million in annual kWh savings, and distributed close to 1.7 million dollars in incentives. The effort has led to countless dollars saved for small businesses in our community and we look forward to offering more of these events in the future.
In the meantime, if you’re interested in receiving the same benefits through a small business energy assessment, you can sign up online through our website or call us at 1-800-797-6699. We are happy to provide guidance and connect you with the best resources for your business.
You can also keep up to date about the Compact’s services and offerings for small businesses, upcoming events, and more by signing up for our monthly newsletter.