TAUNTON – The South Eastern Economic Development Corporation, an organization that provides financing and technical assistance to small businesses, elected Ferdinand “Ferd” T. Kelley, as the new chair at its 28th annual meeting last week.
Kelley, retired after serving as executive vice president for the Rockland Trust Company, has been the vice chairman of SEED for three years and has held a seat on the board of directors for 17 years, the entity said.
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“SEED never allows good people to retire, and Ferd can now utilize his valuable skills in growing the small business finance corporation,” said Maria Gooch-Smith, SEED executive director, in an news release.
The announcement was made at SEED’s 28th annual meeting on Nov. 18 where local businesses Rich’s Transportation Services Inc. of Taunton and Ecologic Spray Foam Insulation Inc. of Jamestown were honored, along with former New Bedford mayor John J. Bullard, who received the “Gus Yankopoulos Regional Advocate of the Year” award for his contribution to the region’s economic development over many years.
SEED noted that it made 111 loans in fiscal year 2010 to regional small businesses, totaling $27 million, and provided assistance to 1,705 entrepreneurs. Loans ranged from $10,000 under the Micro Loan Program to $2 million under the SBA 504 Program.
Other SEED members were elected at the meeting, including: Richard Shafer, vice chair (Taunton Economic Development Director); Gerard Nadeau, vice chair (Rockland Trust Co.); William Barnes, treasurer (Citizens Bank); Robert Howard, Jr., assistant treasurer (Bank of Fall River); William Lewis, clerk (Bristol County Savings Bank); and Roy Nascimento, assistant clerk (New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce).
