Mill Cities Community Investment (MCCI) – Mill Cities Community Investments mission is to grow the assets and wealth of historically disinvested individual and their communities by providing a combination of robust advice, resourced networks, and capital investment.
Merrimack Valley Strong – WeAreMV is a regional marketing and economic development initiative that features properties, projects, successes, and business opportunities in the Valley. Here you will find a one-stop resource with municipal contacts, zoning designations, community information, and properties available for sale and for lease. They are here to support businesses that create a prosperous and resilient economy in the Merrimack Valley. Cities include Lowell, Haverhill, and Lawrence.
Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) – The SDO’s mission is to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in state contracting for businesses owned by minorities, women, Portuguese, veterans, service-disabled veterans, those with a disability, and LGBT individuals, as well as small Massachusetts businesses. The SDO certifies these businesses and manages several programs that help them enhance their marketability when bidding on public contracts.
Massachusetts State Government Business Resources Page – Check here for resources on starting and maintaining a business in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) Small Business Resource Guide – MGCC actively maintains a list of resources to support small business success, organized by category, and linking to partner organizations. The list includes resources for employers like information on layoff aversion programs, compliance guidance, technical assistance opportunities, nonprofit lending, and others.
SBIR Target Technologies (START) Program (MassVentures) – This program offers MA-based, SBIR Phase II companies, grants, and business guidance to help them commercialize their technologies. It aims to help high growth companies expand local employment opportunities, promote local manufacturing and commercialization, and stimulate innovation across the Commonwealth.
Free Small Business Office Hours LCR Biz Grow – LCR Biz Grow is excited to continue their free weekly small business “office hours” on Fridays from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. To join, please click this link at the right time: http://bit.ly/BizGrowOfficeHours.
If you need free legal assistance please email BizGrow@lawyersforcivilrights.org or call BizGrow at 857-264-1810.
Massachusetts MBDA Business Center – The Massachusetts MBDA Business Center is part of a national network of business centers funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA).
Operated by the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC), they are strategically positioned to help Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) prosper. Utilizing their expansive network partners and select subject matter experts, they apply extensive knowledge and expertise beyond their core businesses to help maximize your potential while elevating your business.
SCORE Boston – They provide business mentoring from experienced advisors at no cost to you and free workshops on all aspects of your business. From startups to existing businesses looking to grow, the expertise SCORE provides helps entrepreneurs like you succeed. All courses listed below are only in English unless stated otherwise.
Boston Community Choice Electricity
Electricity prices are rising, but your bills don’t have to!
Small businesses are eligible for the city-run program Boston Community Choice Electricity. Through December 2023, your business can receive 100% renewable electricity for 13 cents/kWh. Eversource prices are currently at 17.8 cents/kWh and are expected to increase. You can sign up at boston.gov/bcce.
Have questions? Sign up for a 15-minute conversation with BCCE’s program manager at calendly.com/bcce
The Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Advancement (MOIA) strives to strengthen the ability of immigrants to fully and equitably participate in economic, civic, social, and cultural life in Boston. MOIA also promotes the recognition and public understanding of the contributions of immigrants to the City.
They are currently taking applications for two mini-grant programs. Immigrant-serving nonprofits in Boston are encouraged to apply.
Nubian Square Small Business Workshop
OEOI will be hosting a four-part workshop series for Nubian Square business owners, presented by Gustavo Consulting! It will be every Tuesday in February from 6-8 pm
Meeting location is Bruce Bolling Municipal Building (Dudley Square) 2300 Washington St 6th Floor Roxbury, MA 02119
Boston Weekly Small Business Call – on Tuesdays at 3pm EST – Register in advance: https://bitly.com/smallbizbos
Small business conference call features reopening guidance, support services, and resources available to Boston’s small businesses, as well as a live Q&A.
You may also view the webinar and submit questions on Facebook Live! Live interpretation is available on Zoom in three languages — Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese (Mandarin):
You may also view the webinar and submit questions on Facebook Live! Live interpretation is available on Zoom in three languages — Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese (Mandarin):
Hay servicios de interpretación y traducción a su disposición sin costo alguno
Các dịch vụ thông dịch và biên dịch được cung cấp cho quý vị hoàn toàn miễn phí.
我们可以向您提供口头翻译和书面翻译服务，并不向您收取费用
M/WBE Certification Office Hours
Join the Supplier and Workforce Diversity team every Wednesday from 11:00am – 1:00pm via zoom for their weekly Certification Office Hours! Their team is available to answer any questions from small business owners interested in becoming a certified Minority/Woman-Owned Business Enterprise with the City of Boston. Click the link below to register/enter. Join the Office Hours here.
Commercial Space Interest Form
Are you an entrepreneur looking for a brick-and-mortar storefront? Please fill out this short form as we work with property owners in the City. We are trying to get a sense of what the space needs are in the coming months as we strategize on future programming.
Llenar este formulario en español
Điền vào biểu mẫu này bằng Tiếng Việt
Book time to connect with the SBA to chat about its various programs and resources to help start, grow, and expand your business. Please note that the SBA is unable to provide legal advice for your business, but they can provide you with helpful resources.
Book time to connect with a Business Manager with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion, the Small Business team provides all small business owners and entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance to successfully start, grow, and build a business in Boston.
Kirstein Business Library: 700 Boylston, Boston, MA 02116
2022 State of Latino Entrepreneurship – This is the eighth annual State of Latino Entrepreneurship report collecting data from Latino-owned businesses, the fastest growing segment of the U.S. business population. This year, we administered a national survey to more than 10,000 U.S. business owners. The survey respondent pool consisted of 5,011 Latino-owned employer businesses and 5,017 non-Hispanic White-owned employer businesses, which served as a benchmark comparison group.
Unleashing the Potential of Entrepreneurs of Color in Massachusetts (MassInc)– This lays out a plan to position inclusive entrepreneurship as a central strategy to achieve a stronger and more equitable economy post-COVID. Produced by MassINC in partnership with the newly-formed Coalition for an Equitable Economy, the research highlights both the need and the opportunity to put inclusive entrepreneurship at the core of the state’s economic development strategy in 2021 and beyond.
The Color of the Capital Gap (tBf) –
At a forum on May 20, 2021, Boston Indicators released a report produced in partnership with The Coalition for an Equitable Economy that examines the disparate levels of growth capital available to businesses in Massachusetts and, crucially, proposes actions to be taken to remedy the disparities. There is a webinar recording and report linked on their website.
Poll: Massachusetts small businesses still recovering from COVID (MassINC)–
New MassINC Polling Group Poll finds Massachusetts small businesses owned by entrepreneurs of color see expansion opportunities if capital and space challenges can be overcome 9/26/2022
Click the link to the left to see their reports! Amplify Latinx is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit formed in 2018 by The Latina Circle to serve as a non-partisan, collaborative convener advancing Latino civic engagement, economic opportunity, and leadership representation. Through their Cafecitos event series, convenings and visibility campaigns, they grew their network from 60 women at launch to a diverse network of over 4,500 multiracial, multicultural Latinos serving in elected and appointed positions, boards and commissions, and executive roles across sectors.
Full guidance and updates: www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-massachusetts
Somerville Small Business Recovery Fund
The City of Somerville and Major Katjana Ballantyne are pleased to announce that new funds are available to small businesses impacted by COVID-19 through the Somerville Small Business Recovery Program. Forgivable loans of up to $15,000 are available to Somerville City physical and home-based businesses that are still experiencing financial losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic and impacts its breadth.
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready
Sign up and complete any combination of two courses, coaching events, and community events. Not only will you be eligible to apply for a $10k grant (applications due May 12, 2023) but you’ll benefit from free access to business courses, live coaching sessions led by industry experts, and insightful resources.
Fast Break for Small Business – Together with the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League, we’re supporting small businesses with $6 million in grants and services. When applications reopen later this year, we’ll be accepting them from small business owners across the country for $10,000 grants and up to $500 worth of LegalZoom products and services.
Applications will reopen during the 2023 WNBA season.
Our community partner, Accion Opportunity Fund, will manage the application process for Fast Break for Small Business. If you applied for a grant in February 2023, you’ll hear back from us prior to the next cycle.
SoGal Foundation has teamed up with Winky Lux, bluemercury, twelveNYC, Twilio, Walmart.org’s Center for Racial Equity and other sponsors to make a small step towards progress by providing several $10K and $5K cash grants to Black women or nonbinary entrepreneurs.
Awardees will also receive tactical help navigating the fundraising environment at large so that they will have a more equitable opportunity at scaling the next billion dollar idea. They will also receive lifetime “ask-me-anything” access to the SoGal Foundation and SoGal Ventures teams. We know this is a small start, and we are hopeful that it will grow. We believe in a brighter future where the next world changing business does not go unrealized because of systemic discrimination.
To qualify, you should:
– self-identify as a Black woman or Black nonbinary entrepreneur (inclusive of multiracial Black women and multiracial Black nonbinary folks)
– have a legally registered business
– plan to seek investor financing in order to scale, now or in the future
– have a scalable, high-impact solution or idea with the ambition to be the next billion dollar business.
Black Ambition 2023 PRIZE COMPETITION
Please apply because it’s time to even the playing field. There’s not just space for more Black and Hispanic leaders in these industries, there’s an overwhelming necessity. Your ideas and innovation, combined with the right support, will tip the scales in a way that permanently changes the landscape in these arenas. We know that building bold ideas and innovative companies requires collaboration and support.
Eligible ventures will compete for awards between $15,000 to $1,000,000. Up to 250 semi-finalists will be
selected, with one grand prize winner receiving $1,000,000.
WomensNet funds several grants for women-owned businesses throughout the year. Fill out one application and you will be eligible for the monthly $10,000 general business grant, the monthly business category grant, or the annual $25,000 grant. Apply today!
Grameen America is offering Boston female entrepreneurs microloans. The non-profit helps women of color, immigrants/non-English speakers that live in poverty and/or have a low income to get the capital they need to start a business.