Grant Opportunities
Below is a list of grants, technical assistance resources and partner information for businesses and municipalities.
Empower Digital Grant (deadline: 6/30/2023)
Empower Digital Grant offers small businesses (with less than 20 employees, less than $2.5 million in annual revenue, and at least one year in business) up to $5,000 for digital capacity building in the areas of Operations, E-Commerce, Digital Marketing, and Social Media (includes items such as internet package, web-based financial accounting systems, CRM, cybersecurity, POS, hardware, photography, website, digital-based apps/programs/solutions, social media, branding, marketing strategy). Offered by Mass Growth Capital Corp (MGCC)
Biz-M-Power Grant (deadline: 6/30/2023)
Biz-M-Power Grant offers small businesses (with less than 20 employees and less than $2.5 million in annual revenue, and at least three months in business) up to $40,000 for capital expenditures such as acquiring/expanding/improving a lease, acquiring/expanding/improving a facility/property (i.e. build-out, renovation, improvements), purchase or lease of equipment and vehicles (vehicle must be 100% business use), and other capital needs. (Funds CANNOT be used for ongoing business operations such as payroll, benefits, buying of inventory, and general working capital.) You must raise half of the grant money yourself using the Patronicity online crowdfunding platform (you will be assigned a Patronicity consultant to help you develop and manage your crowdfunding campaign), and the other half will be given to you by MGCC as a match (for example, if you raise $11,000 in your Patronicity Campaign, MGCC will award you a matching $11,000). Offered by Mass Growth Capital Corp (MGCC)
Small Business Strong
Small Business Strong offers businesses 5-15 hours of free consulting from experts across a variety of fields and with experience in many different industries. You first meet with a Business Advisor who works with you to define (as clearly as possible) what the opportunity or problem is you are wishing to address. The Business Advisor then searches for a Functional Specialist (drawing from SBS’s long list of consultants and specialists) with the right kind of expertise and the greatest amount of familiarity with your type of business – and matches you with that specialist. You then get 5-10 hours with that specialist.
MassCEC Minority and Women Owned Business Support Grants (deadline: 3/10/2023)
MWBE Support Grants provide up to $1,000,000 across three years in grant funds and technical support to organizations that address the barriers faced by MWBEs in the clean energy sector and provide MWBEs with the skills and resources to thrive. Grantees develop or expand programs that provide support to existing MWBEs entering the clean energy sector and/or assist in the creation of new MWBEs in the sector. This funding is not intended to benefit a single MWBE. Deadline March 10, 2023.
Amber Grants (deadline: 3/31/2023
Small business grants for women in Massachusetts. Each month, judges award $10,000 to a women-owned business. Even better — the 12 monthly winners compete for a year-end Amber Grant of $25,000. So, a few minutes of your time can translate into $35,000 in grant money for your business. They also give away another $10,000 grant every month to a “Business Category” entrepreneur. These 12 categories can include anything from fashion designers, to restaurant owners, to health and wellness practitioners, to hair product business owners. And they give one of those monthly “Business Category” grant recipients an additional $25,000 Year End Grant. Apply here.
Juntos Crecemos Hispanic Digital & Delivery Program
PepsiCo is inviting Latina entrepreneurs who work in food service to apply for eight weeks of personalized expert consultation, including best practices across operations, technology, marketing and digital presence. Learn more here: pepsicojuntoscrecemos.com/jefaowned/
Pathways to Black Franchise Ownership
Organization that vets, trains, and partners with individuals fromunderserved communities to own and operate competitive businesses.They strive to remove barriers to Black ownership entry andaccelerate ownership outcomes for those seeking new opportunitiesto own, manage and expand their careers through foodservicefranchisee ownership. Learn more here: mfha.net/pathways-to-black-franchise-ownership-program
Santander’s Cultivate Small Business
Funding opportunity: Santander’s Cultivate Small Business was created to help early-stage entrepreneurs (focused on women, people of color, and immigrants) build food businesses. It’s like a mini-MBA for food businesses and it’s completely FREE. The program is fully funded by Santander Bank. This year it’s virtual and open to anyone in Massachusetts.For questions on Cultivate Small Business, contact ploy@commonwealthkitchen.org
National Association for the Self-Employed
You could receive up to $4,000 for your small business through the NASE Growth Grants program. Must be a NASE member. Grants can be used for marketing, advertising, hiring employees, expanding facilities and other specific business needs. Learn more here: https://www.nase.org/
Center for Women & Enterprise
cweonline.org
Numerous online training and workshops for small businesses, particularly women-owned.
Get Konnected
getkonnected.com
Founded by Colette Phillips, Get Konnected! unleashes the power of inclusion, curates cross-cultural business connections, fosters career advancement, and facilitates access to opportunity for women and people of color.
- GK! Network – Grow your network through curated cross cultural connections.
- GK! Fund – Facilitating access to capital, mentorship and opportunity for women of color founders.
- GK! Market – Amplifying brands in Boston and beyond to fuel small business growth and increase their bottom line.
- GK! Execu-Search – Helping top companies and non-profits diversify their senior leadership roles.
- GK! Job Hub – Find your dream job with well-known companies in Boston and beyond.
Harbor One Business Planning
Success for Small Business (SSB) Loan Program
Take the online courses 1 – 5 and after successful completion, speak to the bank about a small business line of credit of $5000.
Hispanic-American Institute
Hispanic-American Institute
The Hispanic-American Institute promotes social, educational, and economic development of Hispanic communities in the United States and Latin America. Check their facebook page for ongoing business support workshops.
LISC Digital Growth Accelerator
LISC.org
The LISC Digital Growth Accelerator is a 7-week, post-pandemic boost for businesses. The accelerator program leverages consulting teams and digital tools to empower businesses of color to strengthen their core business, grow their capacity and double their revenue.
Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation
empoweringsmallbusiness.org
Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) functions as a one stop resource for debt financing for small businesses. The purpose of MGCC is to create and preserve jobs at small businesses, inclusive of those owned by women, minorities, immigrants and veterans. MGCC also works to promote economic development throughout the Commonwealth, with special paid attention to business needs in underserved areas, Gateway Cities and low to moderate income communities.
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network
MSBDC.org
The MSBDC provides free and confidential one-to-one business advice to prospective and existing small businesses focusing on, business growth and strategies, financing and loan assistance as well as strategic, marketing, and operational analysis. In addition, low-cost educational training programs are offered across the state targeted to the needs of small business.
MassDevelopment
MassDevelopment.com
Lenders. Developers. Job creators. At MassDevelopment, we offer financing and real estate solutions to support companies and nonprofits, increase housing, eliminate blight, and drive economic growth across Massachusetts.
Mass Hire – Greater Brockton Career Center
Mass Hire Greater Brockton
Greater Brockton Career Center helps job seekers and employers connect. They provide career training and business grants and incentives. Special programs for Veterans and Youth.
Mass Hire – South Shore
Mass Hire South Shore
South Shore Career Center helps job seekers and employers connect. They provide career training and business grants and incentives. Special programs for Veterans and Youth.
Massachusetts Office of Business Development
Mass Office of Business Development
The Massachusetts Office of Business Development assists businesses relocating to Massachusetts as well as businesses wishing to expand their current operations, with specific attention being paid to jobs created, jobs retained, and capital invested. Our team provides a highly responsive, central point of contact that facilitates access to resources, expertise, and incentive programs.
NeighborWorks Housing Solutions, Building a Better Business
nhsmass.org/small-business-loans
$1M Venture Loan Fund for the City of Brockton. This fund allows small businesses loans of up to $50,000 for businesses in Brockton. To qualify for the fund, NeighborWorks has developed a small business program that prepares all applicants with a functional business plan. Once the business plan is in place, we can begin the loan application process. We will help guide you with your plan, making sure all the necessary elements have been researched and documented. The program “Building a Better Business” consists of three classes. Each 2-hour class will be educational and interactive as we will use group brainstorming and technology throughout the session.
SCORE
Score.org
SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow, and achieve their goals. Since 1964, they have provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs and deliver most offerings at no cost.
SEED South Eastern Economic Development
SEED Corporation
SEED operates four different loan programs, which provide funds in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5.5 million. The programs are defined by both the dollar amount and use of the proceeds sought by the borrower – except for the Micro Loan Program, which often provides loans to start-up businesses and those not yet “bankable”.
Small Business Strong
SmallBStrong
Massachusetts women and minority owned small business owners can participate by engaging in one or more of the core elements of Small Business Strong, all free of charge with no strings attached: an online portal, business advisors, and functional specialists.
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network
msbdc.org/
UMass Amherst’s Massachusetts Small Business Development Center provides free, confidential, one-on-one business assistance and free and low-cost training to prospective and existing small businesses. Schedule a virtual meeting.
US Small Business Administration (SBA)
Connect 24 Business Alliance
Connect24BA.com
Connect 24 Business Alliance (C24BA) was formed to increase strength and support for our members and provide more opportunities for our local business community to thrive. (formerly Randolph and Stoughton Chambers of Commerce)
Cranberry Country Chamber of Commerce
CranberryCountry.org
The Cranberry Country Chamber of Commerce represents the towns of Middleboro, Lakeville, Raynham, Bridgewater, Plympton, Halifax, Carver, Wareham, and Rochester.
Easton Chamber of Commerce
Easton-Chamber.com
The Easton Chamber of Commerce mission is to unite, guide and support Easton businesses with the goal of increasing economic opportunities and fostering a healthy business climate.
Metro South Chamber of Commerce
MetroSouthChamber.com
Serves nearly 1,000 member businesses of all sizes from virtually all industries in the communities of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Canton, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Holbrook, Norwell, Randolph, Rockland, Sharon, Stoughton, West Bridgewater, and Whitman.
Pembroke Chamber of Commerce
PembrokeChamber.org
The Pembroke Chamber of Commerce works with all types of businesses and families to improve the living standard for everyone in the town. Pembroke is a great place to work, live, do business and or start a business. Promote your business today on our new website and social media channels. Join our Chamber now!
Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce
Serves more than 750 members across the lower south shore including Carver, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanson, Kingston, Marshfield, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton.
South Shore Chamber of Commerce
SouthShoreChamber.org
Comprised of 1,200 corporations, small to midsize businesses, non-profits, educational institutions, restaurants and sole proprietors.
See Plymouth
SeePlymouth.com
See And Experience all That Plymouth County Has to Offer. Plymouth County offers cranberry farms, beautiful nature walks and more. Within the county is Plymouth, MA, the home of Plymouth Rock, a universal symbol of America. It is where the Mayflower came ashore 400 years ago, bringing with it English pilgrims who helped found the nation. The town and county of Plymouth boasts some of the best whale watching, dining, shopping, and cultural activities in a quaint New England setting, much of it nestled along the seashore. It is a history lover’s paradise, a family friendly atmosphere, and easy walking as you take in breathtaking sunrises.
Tourism and Business Directory – Get the App!
Download free from the Apple Store or Google Play. Each app has business and restaurant listings as well as things to do. Businesses, Restaurants and Non Profits can list for free. For more information, email ListMyLocalBusiness@gmail.com
- Brockton MA – City of Champions
- Discover Avon MA
- Discover Easton MA
- Discover Stoughton MA
- See Plymouth MA
Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program Opportunity (deadline 3/2/2023)
The Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) program seeks to ensure that farmers, fisherman and other local food producers are better connected to a strong, resilient food system to help mitigate future food supply and distribution disruption, as well as ensuring that individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth have access to food, with a special focus on food that is produced locally and food that is equitably accessible. Please click the COMMBUYS link below to apply. COMMBUYS direct link here – Deadline March 2, 2023Additional FSIG program details can be found here.
Commonwealth Places – MassDevelopment (Expression of Interest deadline: 3/17/2023)
MassDevelopment’s “Commonwealth Places” is a competitive opportunity to advance locally driven placemaking in downtown and neighborhood commercial districts in communities throughout Massachusetts. Placemaking is a collaborative process through which people in communities work together to improve vacant, underutilized or repurposed publicly-accessible spaces and maximize their shared value. The process facilitates creative patterns of use, and leverages the local physical, cultural, and social assets that define a place and support its ongoing evolution.MassDevelopment will award seed grants between $2,500 – $15,000. A 1:1 local match, either cash or in-kind is required. They will also award place-making implementation grants between $5,000 and $50,000 to projects within this funding category. A 1:1 local cash match is required.More information on Commonwealth Places is available here.
AARP Community Challenge Grant (deadline: 3/15/2023)
The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. In 2023, the AARP Community Challenge is accepting applications across three different grant opportunities, two of which are new this year.Applications are due by 5pm on March 15th.The flagship AARP Community Challenge grants have ranged from several hundred dollars for smaller, short-term activities to tens of thousands of dollars for larger projects. Since 2017, AARP has funded projects ranging from $500 to $50,000 with an average grant amount of $11,900 (83 percent of grants have been under $20,000.) AARP reserves the right to award compelling projects of any dollar amount.More info is available here.
One Stop for Growth (deadline: 6/2/2023)
- Expressions of Interest Open December 14, 2022Expression of Interest submissions will be accepted through March 17, 2023
- Full Application OpenJanuary 20, 2023
- Webinars:
- Webinar 1: One Stop Overview Webinar – January 31, 2023 Register Here
- Webinar 2: One Stop Application Guidance Webinar – February 2, 2023 Register Here
- Webinar 3: Prerecorded Technology Webinar – To Be Posted February 7, 2023
- Full Application Submission Period OpenMay 2023
- Full Application Submission Period ClosesJune 2, 2023
- Review & EvaluationJune-September 2023
- Notification of AwardOctober/November 2023
- Anticipated ContractingNovember/December 2023
MA Cultural Council Grant Programs (deadline: 6/30/2023)
Sign up for email list to be notified of grant opportunities.
Municipal Grant Finder
mass.gov/lists/community-grant-finder
Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA)
CHAPA runs programs that connect people with affordable rental and homeownership opportunities, including MyMassHome, the Massachusetts Homeownership Collaborative, and Chapter 40B Monitoring.
Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC)
CEDAC’s early stage financing supports investment in affordable housing, and in the neighborhoods that our community-based developers serve. Our loan products, technical assistance, and patient capital have stimulated the production or preservation of 45,000 housing units in cities and towns throughout Massachusetts. CEDAC’s predevelopment and acquisition financing supports a wide variety of projects, with sizes ranging from just a handful of units to well over 100, locations that include urban, rural, and suburban, in mixed-income, mixed-use, rental, and homeownership projects throughout the Commonwealth.
DHCD HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)
HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME): The HOME Program is a federally funded program that provides funding to non-profit or for-profit developers for affordable rental housing production and rehabilitation.
Housing Navigator
Database of income-restricted rentals from all over the state.
MassHousing
Workforce Housing Initiative: supports the creation of rental housing that is affordable for households whose incomes are too high for subsidized housing but are priced out by market rents.
Mass Housing Partnership (MHP)
MBTA Communities Zoning Compliance and Technical Assistance https://www.mhp.net/community/complete-neighborhoods-initiative
NeighborWorks Housing Solutions
https://nhsmass.org/Services include rental assistance; emergency financial help; shelter and homelessness prevention; first-time homebuyer education and counseling; financial coaching; foreclosure prevention; affordable residential and small business loans; and construction and management of high-quality rental housing across Southern Massachusetts.
One Mortgage by Mass Housing Partnership (MHP)
Mortgage assistance for first-time homebuyers. Low downpayment, low fixed interest rate, no private mortgage insurance, financial assistance for eligible buyers, homebuyer education class.
MassHousing’s Planning for Housing Production Program
We are excited to announce the re-launch of MassHousing’s Planning for Housing Production Program. This program provides cities and towns with the technical capacity needed to implement local planning and transform priority development sites into new affordable homes!
In this program, MassHousing will fund pre-development activities on priority housing development sites by contracting directly with third-party consultants then matching consultants with municipalities based on their respective expertise and local needs. The program prioritizes the reuse and redevelopment of municipally-owned properties; exceptionally positioned privately-owned sites may also be eligible for funding. Grant funds will support predevelopment planning activities that create development-ready sites, including technical assistance with a municipally-led RFP process. In all cases, technical assistance funding will prioritize the robust public engagement needed to build pro-housing constituencies.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. You can find more information or apply here!
We are holding a virtual information session on February 28th at 1:00pm. You can register for this information session here.
We are also accepting responses to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to re-establish a list of qualified consultants to provide planning technical assistance. The RFQ is attached and also available here. If you are interested in applying, please review the requirements in the attached RFQ. Submittals are due by 5:00pm on March 17, 2023.
