Brewing the American Dream at STCC

SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) - New businesses need two things to survive: funding and expertise. The founder of Samuel Adams Beer lacked those things when he started his business 27 years ago in Boston.

Monday night at the Scibelli Enterprise Center at Springfield Technical Community College, Samuel Adams was giving back to the business community through a partnership called "Brewing the American Dream". Dozens of local entrepreneurs networked and met with business coaches. They got advice on a variety of business issues from building a website to increasing sales and targeting their markets.

"I tend to talk to them about email and how to really stay in touch with their customers. How they can drive their repeat business. Just get them to think about things that will sustain their business for the long term," said Sebouh Arakelian, the I.T. operations manager for Boston Beer Company.

Ed Peplinski founded Veterans in Packaging, Springfield. He came to this seminar to increase his business. Peplinski told 22News, "I've already been in business selling packaging. I figure some of these businesses have ideas. When they get off the ground they're going to need packaging.
It's kind of an opportunity to network."

In 2008, Sam Adams and ACCION USA launched their partnership to hold these speed coaching seminars to offer expertise and small business loans to qualified business people. Sam Adams P.R. person Katie Powell told 22News that ACCION USA has more money to give in loans than they have qualified applicants. You can learn more about the micro-loans by calling 617-616-1582.