Doing Business
Business Associations serving Martha’s Vineyard unique towns of Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven (also known as Tisbury), Aquinnah, Chilmark and West Tisbury:
Edgartown Board of Trade
The Edgartown Board of Trade is the principle voice for business in the Town of Edgartown. It is dedicated to fostering an economic climate that enhances and improves the quality of life in the community while protecting the historic character of the town, the natural beauty and its sense of community.
Oak Bluffs Association
The Oak Bluffs Association (OBA) is a voluntary membership group of over 140 businesses and community members established in 1991. They are dedicated to promoting the natural beauty and historical charm of the Oak Bluffs area, while fostering economic health though a strong and vibrant business community.
Tisbury Business Association
The Tisbury Business Association is active throughout the year, championing the town's businesses and sponsoring key events to bring business to downtown.
TBA meets monthly and encourages active participation. They are best known for celebrating the magic of Christmas with small trees along Main Street, horse and wagon rides, the white lights on the Linden Tree, in store windows and outlining buildings.
United States Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen our overall economy. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years, the goal is the same: help Americans start, build and grow businesses.
Cape Cod SCORE
SCORE is the nation’s largest volunteer business counseling service and is a resource partner with SBA. Locally, it is comprised of 35 business professionals offering free and confidential business consultation. Their goal is to create on-going relationships with small business entrepreneurs, and guide them to make smart business decisions, which lead to profits.
SCORE provides assistance with Business Plans, Sales and Marketing Strategies, Financing Options, Management and Administrative Procedures, E-Commerce. Entrepreneurial Mentoring and Advisory Boards help build confidence and assist with decision making.
Southeastern Development Corporation
South Eastern Economic Development (SEED) Corporation SEED Corp. is the local link to the Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 Program, which provides growing businesses with up to $4 million in long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets, such as land and buildings. SEED’S work with the SBA and private-sector lenders has made them one of the top SBA 504 lenders in the region. Loan programs start at $1000. They also administer a small business technical assistance program.
