Blog

 

We’re busy working on a whole range of tech-related solutions to the challenges COVID has thrown at the small businesses in Lynn…  here are some of them.

Signage and Graphics

We’ve got several options for in-business graphics, including unique posters and floor stickers in Spanish and English (as well as other languages) for attention-getting messages to protect customers and inspire confidence.

Occupancy Monitoring

We have electronic solutions for businesses that have to monitor their occupancy.  These devices automatically total entrances and exits to give an accurate at-a-glance total of bodies in the property.  We have several versions, from simple mechanical sensors for doors and gates, to IR-sensors with no contact, to even radar array sensors for wider access areas… some even smart-phone enabled.

Barriers, Social Distance Solutions

From straight plexi barriers to repurposed, creative structures, we design and install barriers to instill confidence and give customers a sense of security and safety.

Transaction Safety

With affordable mobile wash stations to debit/credit/WIC card sanitizers, we’ve designed and made several products to allow businesses to conduct transactions safely and securely.

PPE

From hand-sewn masks to ear-savers, hand sanitizer, shields and gowns, we’ve produced over 4000 units of PPE for the city of Lynn.  We are working with the city’s Emergency Operations Center to continue to distribute PPE “Care Packs” to those who need it most.

Ventilation, HVAC Consulting

We have several working partners in HVAC and ventilation who work with businesses to solve HVAC and ventilation issues affordably and effectively, from simple filter change-outs to complete systems with active UV sterilization units.

Business/Legal Consulting, Grants and Support

Through our partnership with Northeastern University’s School of Law, the City of Lynn, the North Shore Latino Business Association, and the Greater Lynn Chamber of Commerce, we’re able to offer businesses a free “Legal Help Desk”, including help with questions about COVID-19 guidelines, financial assistance applications and commercial leases.

COVID-Safe Certification for Commercial and Residential Cleaning Services

We can help small cleaning businesses understand standards for CDC and MA approved practices for cleaning residential and commercial facilities, both to enable them to do the best work possible, and to inspire and promote confidence in their clients.  We also have access to CDC-grade cleaning tools and products.

Marketing and Promotion

We help businesses navigate the maze of Website creation and maintenance, Social Media Marketing, App management and other tools to get the message out – that they’re committed to their customer’s safety, that they’re meeting requirements and standards, and that they have supply when addressing shortages.

 

 

Well folks, it’s time to spill the beans.  We’ve got some pretty exciting news.

Through the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) and their Small Business Technical Assistance Grant Program, and along with help from the folks at Lynn Main Streets, we were awarded a grant of $100,000 to help the small businesses in Lynn cope with technical issues dealing with COVID.

Here’s the basic aim of the program:
“… for technical assistance and training grants to assist small businesses located in Gateway cities, and other under-resourced and low-moderate-income communities in Massachusetts. …to small businesses and start-ups with an emphasis on under-resourced and low-moderate-income businesses and entrepreneurs. “

The full details on MGCC and this program can be found here: https://www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/what-we-offer/small-business-technical-assistance-grant-program

A big focus of the award is on forging partnerships within the community.  We put this grant together with the help of Lynn Main Streets, and are working with them to reach out to the entire city.  We’re also leveraging our work with PPE earlier in 2020 and the partnerships we built there, calling once again on the nearly one hundred volunteers and helpers who made that such a success.  We’re now working with the Lynn Education District, representing virtually every school and facility in Lynn and surrounding towns and are looking to them for help involving our schools in the project, as well as a newfound partnership with the Creative Collective, based in Salem.  It’s exciting stuff.

The funds can be used for equipment, supplies, salaries and services – whatever’s necessary to get this done.

We’ve already started – we’re currently working on posters and graphics, signage, data collection and management, developing low-cost products for dealing with traffic in a retail environment, web and app software solutions, workforce management solutions, supply-line and distribution solutions and a whole lot more.

The program was announced in May, but the awards (slated for August) were delayed until this past month.  There’s no time to lose, and we’re hustling to make up for lost time! The program has to be complete by June, but more importantly, these folks need our help!

If you want to be involved, we welcome ideas, hands-on volunteers, and community partners – drop a note and let’s talk!

When we were working on our PPE production, one of our volunteers commented, “I just want some chance to make something good come out of this disaster…”.  Well, here’s our chance.

Time to get to work.

Welcome to our new home!

One of the biggest challenges our old space posed was adapting it to Social Distancing guidelines.  It simply didn’t have enough room, and it was a difficult footprint to work with.  Not so, our new shop.

The central focus of our floorplan was to provide space between workstations and shops, and a traffic pattern that allowed plenty of room for people to get around.  We were on the lift the other day and snapped a few photos, have a look:

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It’s more than just trying to meet guidelines, though.  It’s about creating a makerspace that allows members a place to feel they can escape to – a place that will protect them, they can create and make in, build and imagine, without concern or fear for their health.  It’s about protecting our community, and providing a “safe haven”.

Interested in learning more?  Shoot us a note, we’ll set up a time you can come by and see what we’re all about.

It’s been a lot of work, but we’re starting to feel at home in our new space…  Take a look at some of the latest shots:

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