The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod and Cape Cod Young Professionals (CCYP) today announced the three winners of the inaugural Positively Different Emerging Business Partnership.  The 2012 recipients are Bum Boosa, Cape Cod Biofuels and Knot Again Muscular Therapy.

This unique partnership is designed to support the growth of emerging businesses on Cape Cod by providing resources and exposure to newly formed, local businesses.  Nominations for newly formed businesses were submitted throughout the summer.  The review committee, comprised of CCYP and bank executives, selected the three companies that they felt demonstrated exemplary entrepreneurial spirit and have developed a creative product or service that fills a need on Cape Cod. 

The winners each receive an assortment of tools and benefits meant to help them network, grow and generate exposure in the marketplace.  Each receives a one year partner level membership in CCYP (valued at $400), a booth at CCYP’s annual Back to Business Bash on September 27 (valued at $1,000), a booth at the Cape and Plymouth Business Magazine Business Connect Conference on October 31 (valued at $1,500), and additional exposure through CCYP and The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod.

“These three companies share The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod’s philosophy of serving Cape Codders, supporting other local small businesses, growing the Cape economy and giving back,” said Joel Crowell, President of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod.  “We're thrilled to support them in their growth and look forward to discovering three equally outstanding companies in 2013.”

Anne Van Vleck, Executive Director of CCYP, sees these three businesses as proof positive that Cape Cod is a great place to open a business. “The three businesses chosen show the variety of business opportunities on the Cape. We have a great group of businesses to partner with this year and look forward to working closely with them and helping them grow their brand,” said Van Vleck.

Nominations for the 2013 Positively Emerging Business Partnership will be open June 1, 2013. For more information, visit www.mycapecodbank.com or www.capecodyoungprofessionals.org

About the Winners:

Bum Boosa

Founded by Mashpee resident and mother of two, Sonja Sheasley, Bum Boosa capitalizes on the renewability and sustainability of bamboo.  Bum Boosa launched its bamboo baby wipes and bamboo diaper rash ointment in 2009. In 2010, they brought the first 100% bamboo bathroom tissue to market.  The company chose bamboo because it can be harvested in 2-4 years and doesn’t require replanting, irrigation or pesticides. Bamboo is making its way steadily into the mainstream as a replacement for many non-biodegradable or non-renewable, disposable products. Bum Boosa’s Bamboo Baby Wipes are made in the USA and are the second baby wipes brand to be USDA certified as biobased. Products are available online at www.bumboosa.com and at several retailers nationwide.  For more information, visit bumboosa.com, call 1-866-966-BUMS (2867), email info@bumboosa.com, or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BumBoosa.

Cape Cod Biofuels

Sandwich-based Cape Cod Biofuels is doing what few others are doing – recycling used vegetable oil into biofuel for home heating oil. Started in 2008 by business partners Marc Watson, James Chace and Andrew Davison, the company has 7 employees and a state-of-the-art plant in the Sandwich Industrial Park.  The impetus to start the company came when the 3 friends were each running their own construction-related businesses and fuel costs skyrocketed. They began recycling vegetable oil into biodiesel to run their trucks.  It was a matter of supplementing their fuel costs at the time.  They soon found out that the oil was better suited for home heating oil and launched the business.

Today Cape Cod Biofuels works with over 700 restaurants across the Cape, South Shore and Rhode Island.  They pick up the waste vegetable oil, refine it into biofuel at their production plant in Sandwich, and sell 100% of it to Loud Fuel which blends it with heating oil and supplies it to local home owners.  Cape Cod Biofuels is the only ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) certified biofuel producer in the state- meaning their biofuel has passed all government fuel standards.

Biodiesel is 100% biodegradable, burns cleaner and emits far fewer harmful toxins and pollutants into the air we breathe.  And 100% of the waste oil is recycled and used right here on Cape Cod.  For more information call 508-833-8666 or visit www.capecodbiofuels.com

Knot Again Muscular Therapy

Founded by Barnstable native Christen Dexter in 2011, Knot Again Muscular Therapy in Osterville provides therapeutic relaxation, deep tissue, and sports massage for mind-body healing. Dexter is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Nationally Certified, and a member of the American Therapy Massage Association.  She has been practicing massage since 2006 and describes her approach as "strong, soothing, and outcome-based to help reduce chronic pain and tension while activating the body's own natural systems of repair and restoration".  Her goal is to help individuals recognize the problem-causing patterns that can develop and lead to dysfunction and pain, and then create a plan for a healthier moving body. Dexter also provides volunteer massage therapy for local and regional events, including the Boston Marathon and Pan Mass Challenge. She keeps her own competitive edge by swimming with Cape Cod Masters and participating in local road races. 

Knot Again Muscular Therapy is located at 15 West Bay Road in Osterville and can be found online at www.knotagainmassage.com.