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Graduate of First RiseUp Springfield Cohort Plans Business Expansion

Sheila Coon, owner of Hot Oven Cookies.
Photo by Leon Nguyen

The Springfield Regional Chamber is always proud to share the news of regional small businesses that take advantage of the various programs and resources designed to help them get to the next level. Congratulations to Sheila Coon, owner of Hot Oven Cookies and a graduate of the first cohort of RiseUp Springfield in 2018, on her plans to open a second location in Agawam in September, followed by locations in Northampton, Westfield and a second Springfield shop.  Coon and her husband also want to apply for a new program at Bradley International Airport where distinctive local businesses will be able to rent kiosks in the airports’s food court just beyond the security checkpoint.

RiseUp Springfield is an innovative collaboration between the City of Springfield and the Association of Black Business & Professionals and the Springfield Regional Chamber. The program is powered by Interise’s  StreetWise ‘MBA’ ™ curriculum.  This hands-on program provides the knowledge and know-how business owners need to create and manage a customized, three-year strategic growth plan. RiseUp Springfield gives business owners the opportunity to create a clearer set of tools with strategic guidance from business peers and experts who understand the unique needs of small business. The curriculum is designed to span seven months.

Read more about Sheila’s growth and her plans for expansion in this story on MassLive: https://www.masslive.com/business/2019/07/hot-oven-cookies-plans-agawam-expansion-eyes-northampton-westfield-and-additional-springfield-shop.html

For more information on RiseUp Springfield, visit this page on our website, https://springfieldregionalchamber.com/business-development-and-resources/  .

You can also visit the RiseUp Springfield website https://www.interise.org/RiseUp-Springfield  or contact Shayvonne Plummer, RiseUp Springfield program manager at 413-787-6525 or email splummer@springfieldcityhall.com.

Are you a member of the Springfield Regional Chamber? Do you have a small business success story? We would love to hear from you so we can share your success story. Please e-mail Maureen Sullivan, sullivan@springfieldregionalchamber.com

If you are looking for help starting a business or if you are a business looking for marketing assistance, please reach out and we can connect you to a wealth of resources in the region.