Save the Date for Our Upcoming Events

It makes us SO happy to announce that we have several upcoming events. We're getting back to making more in-person memories. We hope you'll be able to join us. Here's the lineup through July.

Stay tuned for more information.

Take a look every week. We continue to add events.

July 13, 11:45 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.; Networking Group at URCC Member Proctor Mansion Inn

July 13, 10:00 a.m. - noon, office hours for Jay Pateakos of URCC Member MassDevelopment

July 14, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.; Alive After Five at Wrentham Village Premium Outlets

July 18, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.; Dottie LeBeau Food Certification Course

July 27, 11:45 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.; Networking Group at URCC Member Proctor Mansion Inn

There's a Day for Just about Everything

Here are the special days for the rest of this week

International Parrot Head Day - Jun 28

International Day of the Tropics - Jun 29

World Social Media Day - Jun 30

Canada Day - Jul 1

International Reggae Day - Jul 1

Play Outside Day - Jul 2

Compliment Your Mirror Day - Jul 3

Our Networking Group

Next Meeting

July 13

11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

URCC Member 

The Proctor Mansion Inn

36 Common Street

Wrentham

Second and fourth Wednesdays of each month.

On July 13, the meeting will move to 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

This networking group is facilitated by URCC Board Member Charlie Miller, owner of the Business Solutions Advisory Group.

If you can't meet with us in person, here's the link to join via Zoom.

Click Here to Join the Meeting via Zoom

Jack Interviewed Karyn Rhodes from

Member Complete Payroll Solutions

Last Wednesday, Jack Lank interviewed Karyn Rhodes from long-time member Complete Payroll Solutions. Karyn works in the company's division that focuses on HR Solutions. Jack and Karyn discussed how hard it is right now to find people to fill positions. There aren't enough employees which makes this a candidate's market. Karyn talked about the importance of marketing your brand to set your company apart and offering benefits that people are seeking, like pet insurance.

Tomorrow, Jack will be talking to Dr. Jeannie Kenkare, Chief Medical Officer and Founder of new URCC member, PhysicianOne Urgent Care.

Host an Alive After Five Event

Our calendar for 2022 is filling up and we know you don't want to be left by the wayside.

What better way to tell our members about you, your company, and your products or services than by hosting an Alive After Five event?

Contact us at the chamber 508-316-0861 if you have any questions.

Remember to Call Ahead

508-316-0861

When you need a notary or signatures on Certificates of Origin, remember to call first to assure that someone is in the Chamber office.

Our staff is often offsite attending various events and meetings. We wouldn't want to waste your time.

Check Out Our Job Board

Our Job Board, an exclusive benefit for our member companies, is a valuable tool for hiring managers looking to attract and find new talent.

Recently, we've added jobs at URCC members Attleboro Kitchen and Bath, Attleboro Flooring, HMEA, SuperCharged Entertainment, School of Rock Attleboro, Paul Davis of Boston South, Metro West, and RI, B and M Catering, Micorp Custom Auto and Truck, Proctor Mansion Inn, Town of North Attleborough, The Bedding Center, The Arc of Bristol County, An Unlikely Story, CTS Services, Inc., HopeHealth, Attleboro Arts Museum, Zahara Cannabis, and Environmental Systems, Inc.

Visit Our Job Board

Send your job postings to us and we'll add the information to our Job Board.

And for the past couple of months, we have been offering a new service. Each week, we'll post new job listings on our Facebook page.

Your posting will be seen by many potential job candidates.

Send your job postings to [email protected].

We're looking forward to helping you fill your open positions.

IRS Increases Mileage Rates for the Remainder of 2022

On June 9, the IRS announced an optional increase to the standard mileage rate for the final half of 2022 (Announcement 2022-13). The IRS normally updates mileage rates once per year, in the fall for the upcoming calendar year; however, they chose to raise rates mid-year given the significant recent gasoline price increases. 

The new rates go into effect on July 1, 2022. The standard mileage rate for business travel will increase 4 cents to 62.5 cents per mile. Medical or military moving mileage (must be active-duty member of the military) also increases 4 cents to 22 cents per mile. Charitable mileage reimbursement rates did not change and remains at 14 cents per mile. 

The business standard mileage rate may be used to substantiate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business use in lieu of tracking actual costs. Employers who reimburse employees’ travel expenses tax-free must not lose sight of other requirements for this treatment explained in Rev. Proc. 2019-46. The large shift in workforce dynamics over the past couple of years requires many employers to carefully review business travel arrangements for proper tax treatment. To learn more about tax issues regarding employee business travel, refer to this article. 

Many employers looking to assist employees with rising costs will find this rate increase welcome, though possibly not enough to cover the drastic gas price increases. If an amount higher than the standard rate is paid, the additional amount is taxable income to employees.

URCC Chairman's Circle Member

Zahara Cannabis Now Open

with Expanded Hours

8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Zahara Cannabis

70 Frank Mossberg Dr.

Attleboro, MA

Now open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Hackers are phishing and the fish are biting!

Now is a great time to focus on cybersecurity awareness!

(A 4-minute read)

A message from Michelle Carlow, President of URCC member CTS Services

508-528-772

I thought the official start of summer would be a great time to call your attention to the growing bad hacker trend of phishing!

According to IT industry reports, email-based phishing is sharply rising and is a leading favorite among hackers: 83% of organizations said they experienced a successful email-based phishing attack in 2021, versus 57% in 2020. That equates to a 46% increase in organizations hit with a successful phishing attack last year - across large and small businesses worldwide.

Yes, your business is vulnerable. Here are a few steps to take to help minimize the risk:

-Focus on cybersecurity awareness training for all employees at all levels of the company.

-Be alert. Phishing takes many forms: email, SMS/text (called smishing), social media, and even voicemails (vishing).

-Think twice before opening an email attachment or any email that appears real but seems suspicious.

During and since the pandemic there has been an increase in hackers attacking people instead of (or in addition to) attacks on IT infrastructure.

Cybersecurity training is "work" in the business world we all live in and it can pay dividends in terms of your level of protection day to day. It may even be required in your cybersecurity insurance!

Keep in mind that the best time to deliver cybersecurity training to an employee (in addition to ongoing group education) is at the time of an incident. This is especially important in this new hybrid workforce model we are all experiencing.

How do you stay safe?

Let's talk about how our services can help protect your company from the risks of phishing crime! We can set up a software demo to show you how to best stay vigilant using state-of-the-art monitoring and cyber training.

P.S. - Grab our cybersecurity infographic here. This link IS SAFE but you can also go to www.ctsservices.com and find HYGIENE under the Services tab.

There's a Lot Going on at URCC Chairman's Circle Member Plainridge Park Casino

301 Washington Street

Plainville, MA

(508) 576-4500

Open 24 hours a day

If you're looking for excitement and winning at a New England casino, Plainridge Park Casino, the hometown casino is for you. You can play at over 1,200 slots or electronic table games, enjoy live local entertainment, choose from seven outstanding dining outlets, or hold your meeting or reception at one of their event venues. And they simulcast horse races around the country. You'll find an exciting experience and hometown hospitality every time you visit.

Plainridge Park Casino is proud of its myheroes program and excited to keep growing. To celebrate hitting 100,000 members, they recently donated $100,000 to local veterans and first responder organizations across the country. Thank you to the veterans and families for your service to our country!

Slack's Oyster House and Grill and the Food Court are open.

You can make reservations on the Plainridge Park Casino home page.

Wow! Check out their promotions page and their My Choice App.

YOUR WEEKEND STARTS HERE ON THE PATIO!

Live music every Friday and Saturday from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. starting May 28th! Cornhole, signature brews, and good times all summer long!

The Loft features a wide variety of entertainment from stand-up comedians and comic hypnotists to live swing bands and musicians.

Friday and Saturday from 8:00 p.m. to midnight, the Revolution Lounge features the area's best live bands and DJs. Whether you want to dance the night away, or relax and hang out with friends, the Revolution Lounge is a great place to unwind after a long week. Best of all, all shows at the Revolution Lounge are completely FREE with no cover charge. No ticket or reservation required!

URCC Corporate Partner 

An Unlikely Story Has Everything You Need for Summer Reading

Check out their calendar page.

The Calendar is Heating Up for the Summer

Click on the author's name for tickets and more information.

Tuesday, June 28; 7:00 p.m.; in person; Adult Beginner Ukulele II

Wednesday, June 29; 7:00 p.m.; in person; Melissa Albert author of the young adult novel Our Crooked Hearts, with Julie C. Dao

Friday, July 1; 6:30 p.m.; in person; Unlikely Trivia

Tuesday, July 5; 7:00 p.m.; in person; Adult Beginner Ukulele II

Friday, July 8; 7:00 p.m.; in person; J. M. Miro, author of Ordinary Monsters

Saturday, July 9; 7:00 p.m.; in person; Robert Broder, author of Better Than New, a bilingual picture book about recycling

Sunday, July 10; 4:00 p.m.; in person; Jamie Michalak; author of the Frank and Bean Children's series; the second adventure is Food Truck Fiasco

Tuesday, July 12; 7:00 p.m.; in person; Adult Beginner Ukulele II

Wednesday, July 13; 11:00 a.m.; online; Book to Movie Club

Wednesday, July 13; 7:00 p.m.; in person; Story Like You Mean It; constructing a self-narrative with intention and purpose; with Dr. Dennis Rebelo

Friday, July 15; in person; 7:00 p.m.; Casey Sherman; author of the true-crime book The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod: Helltown

Tuesday, July 19; 7:00 p.m.; in person; Adult Beginner Ukulele II

Wednesday, July 20; 1:30 p.m.; in person; Beach Bucket Bingo

Thursday, July 21; 7:30 p.m.; in person; Ruth Ware, author of The It Girl, with Hank Phillippi Ryan

All customers must wear masks in the store.

Sign up for their weekly enewsletter on their home page.

Peruse their Staff Picks section and take advantage of the expertise of their amazing booksellers.

Be sure to visit the Unlikely Café for a hot chocolate or delicious hot soup!

Click Here for the Café Menu

Corporate Member Botera Offers a One-of-a-Kind, Modern Consumer Experience

More than 75 Strains of Flower

Botera

1256 W. Central Street, Suite 6

Franklin, MA 02038

(508) 298-7199

Hours of Operation:

Sunday - Wednesday: 10:00 a.m - 9:00 p.m.

Thursday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Botera offers high-quality cannabis products in a comfortable, welcoming, and modern environment. With more than 75 strains of flower, they focus on the complete customer cannabis experience with budtenders who are specially trained to educate and assist clients by facilitating product choices to maximize satisfaction. Come in to Botera's interactive facility, where you can view and smell the different strains on their bud table.

Order Online or in the Store

Click Here to Schedule an Appointment

Check out Frequently Asked Questions

MassDevelopment Hours

Jay Pateakos, vice president of Business Development for the South Region of MassDevelopment, continues to hold office hours at the United Regional Chamber office at 310 South Street in Plainville.

Jay is available to provide information and answer questions about how MassDevelopment can help businesses, financial institutions, and municipalities in southeastern Massachusetts.

He has announced his office hours for 2022. Every date is a Wednesday and Jay is here from 10:00 a.m. - noon.

July 13, August 10, September 14,

October 12, November 9, and December 14

For more information, email Jay or call 508-678-0533, ext. 1201.

Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Meetings Conducted via Phone and Conference Call

Nancy Lowd, Senior Business Advisor at the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC), will be conducting meetings by phone and conference call for the foreseeable future.

Call 508-673-9783 for a virtual appointment

The MSBDC is committed to helping your business succeed in Massachusetts. They provide free, confidential, one-to-one business assistance, and free or low-cost educational training programs to prospective and existing small businesses throughout the Commonwealth. The MSBDC fosters the start, growth, and sustainability of small business by providing high-quality, in-depth advising, training, and capital access.