City of Concord

Business owners are invited to join Project Equity for the Succession Planning and Employee Ownership: Future-Proofing Your Small Business webinar. In the webinar business owners will learn about employee ownership as a succession plan. Register for the webinar at https://lnkd.in/ga6J7CvV

Last week, staff and council attended an open house to see the new Papé Material Handling building located at 1975 Arnold Industrial Way. Papé Material Handling offers top-of-the-line equipment such as fork lifts and aerial platforms, as well as in-house service for equipment. Papé was previously located at 210 Mason Circle in a 17,000 square foot building, and needed more space to service their customers. The new building is over 30,000 square feet featuring a sales lobby, warehouse, parts department and service bays to work on equipment. The higher ceilings and multiple entry points to the service bays allow for larger equipment, up to five tons, to be safely serviced indoors. The company also invested in touchscreen technology to provide an interactive learning environment for the team in the training rooms. Papé Materials Handling has been in business for 85 years and currently operate 150 locations across nine states with over 4,500 employees. The Concord location currently has 26 team members and will be adding more soon. To learn more about Papé Materials Handling and services at the Concord location, visit their website at https://lnkd.in/gBfTSS5N

The final feature for National Small Business Week is The Corner Kitchen, located at 3606 Willow Pass Road. The Corner Kitchen opened in January of 2021 by brothers John and Chef A.J. Groppetti, along with Chef Sal Morales, who all had a dream to open a restaurant. They take pride in finding creative ways to serve your favorite dishes. The Corner Kitchen specializes in a variety of sliders from beef to chicken, pork to salmon, and even plant based! They put a twist on classic fries with their sidewinder fries that can come fully loaded. Those looking for a light option can find an array of salads with fresh produce and seasonal flavors to please your palate. Visit The Corner Kitchen Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday 11 am to 8 pm, Friday 11 am to 9 pm, and Sunday 11 am to 7 pm. View their menu at www.thecorner-kitchen.com

We continue celebrating National Small Business Week today by featuring Marie Star Health Services, LLC, a state-licensed, family-centered, and culturally diverse home care agency offering professional and efficient services for in-home care, home health aides, elder care, maternal/newborn care, and more. Anthony Ihejeto and sister, Marie, founded Marie Star Health Services in 2012 under the principles of ethics and compassionate care as the basic and fundamental rights for all. Marie, along with Anthony's wife and daughter, all have professional medical backgrounds, and work with employees to provide care driven by the genuine love for others. Anthony is proud of the diverse staff because it allows them to connect with clients, offering the comfort they need while being cared for. To view services provided by Marie Star Health Services, visit www.mariestarhhs.com.

Today we will feature Rivendell Woodworks, Inc. in our continued celebration of National Small Business Week.     Kanda Alahan founded Rivendell in 1975, initially crafting toys and fine furniture out of his home. By the early 80s, he moved into a commercial space and shifted his focus to custom cabinetry and millwork for kitchens, bathrooms, and more. Rivendell ultimately settled in Concord in 1996, and became a family business when Kanda's sons, Nandi, Jeremy (pictured), and Kendiah joined and have since became incorporated owners.     The Rivendell team focuses on custom work for both residential and commercial customers and pride themselves on taking on a challenge, bringing life the most intricate and unique designs. The in-house CNC Milling machines allow them to provide a range of precision machined components in woods and plastics affording them the opportunity to build and install their creations.     Learn more about their services and view their customer work at https://lnkd.in/gfdbgwUm  

We continue celebrating National Small Business Week today by featuring a new small business, Afghan Kamees. Qaseem and his family purchased their home in Concord last year, and soon after opened Afghan Kamees, specializing in authentic Afghan clothing for women, men, and children. The traditional pieces are designed and made by young businesswomen from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. Qaseem and his wife started the business by selling vibrant pieces perfect for celebrations and holidays, and plan to add more daywear to the collection soon. Customers are also able to complete their look with shoes and beautiful jewelry and accessories. Qaseem and his wife were happy to open their business in Concord because of the diverse atmosphere of both businesses and residents. Visit Afghan Kamees at 2777 Clayton Road on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm.

Happy National Small Business Week! For more than 60 years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has celebrated National Small Business Week, acknowledging the contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. This week, the City of Concord will feature small businesses in our community to share their stories.    The first business we profile is FUNKMODE Inc, who recently celebrated their 20 year anniversary! FUNKMODE, located at 1440a Franquette Avenue, offers a variety of dance classes from Hip-Hop to Jazz, to Cardio Dance and more, for kids aged 3 years and up, as well as adults. They also offer private lessons, after school programs, birthday parties, and studio space rentals.     The Concord studio opened in 2016 with the help of family and many of their students who believed in FUNKMODE's mission to surround their community in a circle of all love as we unite through music and movement. The team welcomes everyone into their studio whether you are a beginner or experienced dancer looking for an inclusive, friendly and "never-taking-ourselves-too-seriously" environment.     Visit their website to learn more about classes offered at www.funkmode.com. Be sure to check back for a week of free classes coming soon! 

In today's business spotlight, we stop and smell the roses at RoseShire. Roseshire, headquartered in Concord, was founded 10 years ago with a mission to provide a luxury floral experience that transcends mere arrangements, aiming to elevate every personal space, connection, and occasion with exquisite roses. They offer both fresh roses and preserved roses that last 1-2 years with care. The packages are all built in house, and each rose is packaged to ensure the freshest quality. These roses make beautiful gifts and an everlasting impression on everyone. Over the course of the 10 years in business, they have fostered partnerships with brands like Disney, Netflix, and Warner Brothers to build custom boxes featuring favorite characters and movies like the Harry Potter series, various Disney princesses, the Nightmare Before Christmas (their top seller), and more. Keep on the lookout for new designs throughout the year, especially around their two most popular holidays – Mother's Day and Halloween! Learn more about the roses and shop their collection at www.roseshire.com.

Attention Small Business Owners! Acquire MBA-equivalent knowledge, amplify your leadership skills, and build relationships with a community of business peers, advisors, and experts through the T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined program, sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This is a six-month hybrid program, free for businesses to participate in and offers an opportunity to learn from experienced subject matter experts in core business topics. Applications close April 28th. Learn more about the program and apply at https://sbathrive.com/

On Tuesday, the City of Concord joined the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of Two Men and a Truck, a woman-owned franchise specializing in professional moving services for both residential and business needs. Their movers undergo extensive hands-on training to ensure they provide quality service and care for their customer's belongings. Inside the warehouse, movers learn how to properly pack and wrap furniture, as well as practice moving items through and around doors and walls to learn how to maneuver each item with ease. The Two Men and a Truck team is dedicated to providing a positive and stress-free moving experience, which is demonstrated through their core value of THE GRANDMA RULE® - to treat customers as they would their own grandmothers. Moving services are available Monday through Saturday. To learn more about available services and request a quote, visit their website at https://lnkd.in/gZ_RMUdw