Grants + Technical Assistance

The BBEC publicizes grants that we believe will be of benefit to Black entrepreneurs and Black businesses. Grants marked with the BBEC logo have been reviewed by our organization.

BBEC & Roots Rising’s BIPOC Vendor Fund

Roots Rising is committed to fostering inclusive participation in the movement towards a just and sustainable food system. To that end we are excited to announce this fund to support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) farmers and entrepreneurs.

Will begin actively seeking vendors in February for the Spring 2023 season.

GRANTS FOR ARTS PROJECTS

Grants for Arts Projects is our largest grants program for organizations, providing comprehensive and expansive funding opportunities for communities. Through project-based funding, the program supports opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, for the integration of the arts with strategies promoting the health and well-being of people and communities, and for the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector.

We welcome applications from a variety of eligible organizations, including first-time applicants; from organizations serving communities of all sizes, including rural and urban areas; and from organizations with small, medium, or large operating budgets.

Deadline: February 9, 2023 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time

Pittsfield Glow Up! Business Improvement Grant Program

The Pittsfield Glow Up! Business Improvement Grant Program is made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act and is facilitated by Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI) and the Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation (PERC). Its purpose is to provide grants of up to $10,000 to eligible businesses affected by COVID-19 within ARPA’s disproportionately impacted district of Pittsfield. The grant funds are for physical improvements that will enhance the experience of foot traffic and create a visual vibrancy in the district.

Small businesses owned by low- to moderate-income individuals, women, minorities, immigrants, non-native English speakers, U.S. military veterans, disabled individuals, and members of the LGBTQ+ community are encouraged to apply.

Deadline: First round application of intent due by Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 11:59 pm.

Blackshires Leadership Academy Accelerator

Are you a community leader or influencer with a passion for making a difference in your community? Are you looking for support, training, and resources to help take your project, organization, or business to the next level? Do you want to connect with like-minded leaders and find a community of support and encouragement? Look no further!

Programs starts on March 2, 2023 at Kripalu.

2023 Capacity Building Grants for Pittsfield (MA) Artists!

MASS MoCA’s Assets for Artists Capacity Building Grant Program pairs an unrestricted micro-grant of $2,000 with professional development tools for artists to design and build their creative future. In this program, each artist determines what they need from a broad array of opportunities, which means that each artist’s path through the program will look a little different. In order to receive their funds, each grantee must first produce a simple written plan that outlines a few goals for the coming year(s). This is a supported process – we have plenty of resources to help artists create plans.

Deadline: March 15, 2023

LMC Scholarship Program

Local Media Consortium (LMC) has established a scholarship program to assist students who plan to pursue a degree in Journalism or Media at a four-year college or university.

The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor, and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team. Awards for this scholarship are granted to eligible recipients without regard to creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, or national origin.

Deadline: March 30, 2023.

TDI Equity Investment Program

TDI Equity is the most significant real estate-specific tool in the TDI District toolkit. We use the TDI Equity Investment program to support the catalytic transformation of commercial properties with potential to spur additional transformative development in and around TDI Districts. Through the program, MassDevelopment invests in near-term projects that activate ground floor and commercial spaces that will have significant economic impacts within a TDI District; are consistent with Commonwealth and Agency priorities; engage and build capacity in local communities and with partners; catalyze market demand and support TDI District goals; and lack other sufficient funding sources to proceed.

Deadline: March 31, 2023.

Pittsfield’s ARPA Small Business Grant Program

Up to $10,000 is available to eligible small businesses within the City of Pittsfield that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Businesses that are vulnerable and still need resources to help them build financial resilience. The grant funds will assist small businesses in the City of Pittsfield to cover wages, rent, loss of inventory and other fixed costs.

Funds are available on a first come, first eligible, completed application basis, subject to the availability of funding.

Youth Employment Strategies (YES)

For Youth ages 14-25. Held in-person at MassHire Berkshire Career Center OR virtually on Zoom, Thursdays from 2:30-4:00 via zoom. Hosted by MassHire Berkshire Career Center Youth Employment Specialist.

Helps young people search for employment, apply for jobs, and provides access to resources within the community.

Sessions held every Thursday from 2:30-4:00pm.

Nursing Assistant Training (January 2023)

The MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board is excited to continue recruitment for future cohorts of our Nursing Assistant Programs! We are accepting applications on a rolling basis for future programs. You will be contacted when dates are announced to confirm that you are available and interested.

Applicants accepted on a rolling basis

POWER FORWARD SMALL BUSINESS GRANT

Vistaprint and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation launched the Power Forward Small Business Grant in partnership with NAACP and announced a combined commitment of $1 million. This grant program aims to create a lasting impact through the economic empowerment of Black-owned small businesses across New England with grants of $25,000 to be awarded on a rolling basis.

CHALLENGE AMERICA

Challenge America offers support primarily to small organizations for projects in all artistic disciplines that extend the reach of the arts to groups/communities with rich and dynamic artistic and cultural contributions to share that are underserved. Challenge America features an abbreviated application, a robust structure of technical assistance, and grants for a set amount of $10,000. Grants require a cost share/match of $10,000 consisting of cash and/or in-kind contributions. Total project costs must be at least $20,000 or greater.

April 27, 2023 at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time

BridgeSong Fund: Emergency Relief for Western MA Women, Nonbinary, and Genderqueer Artists of Color

This trans- and queer- affirming emergency fund will support Western MA BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) women, nonbinary, and genderqueer musicians* who already face economic, medical, equity barriers and systemic oppression in their line of independent, gig-based work. The COVID-19 outbreak has rendered many musicians unemployed for the foreseeable future. This relief fund is set up to offer financial relief for housing, medical expenses, and sustenance during this challenging time.

Our goal is to get funds to recipients ASAP. We are a small team, so please be patient as we work to respond to applications and distribute funds as they become available.

MassHire Berkshire workforce board’s Introduction to advanced manufacturing skills

Free training opportunity worth $2000!

Want a Job in the Diverse World of Manufacturing? Many jobs are available!

ONLINE training through TOOLING-U in collaboration with Berkshire Community College
25 online classes in many topics including: OSHA, Shop Math, Blue Print Reading, CNC, Robotics and other Manufacturing fundamentals

Santander’s Cultivate Small Business Program

CommonWealth Kitchen has partnered with Santander to provide an intensive, 12-week FREE mini-MBA program, in collaboration with Babson College to early-stage entrepreneurs in the food-industry.

Santander’s Cultivate Small Business provides entrepreneurs with the tools they need to catalyze growth. The program is anchored by a food business-specific curriculum taught by Babson College MBA professors.

The 12-week course is completely virtual and is accepting applications now for classes beginning in April 2023!

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: EQUITY WORKFORCE TRAINING IMPLEMENTATION

MassCEC’s Equity Workforce Training Implementation Grants provide up to $1,200,000 across two to three years in grant funds and technical support to applicants developing or expanding programs that provide job training and support services to underserved individuals seeking employment in the clean energy sector. Successful applicants will propose projects that address barriers faced by these populations, demonstrate a high-level of employer engagement and leverage of existing workforce development systems, and lead to high-quality careers in climate-critical occupations.

Deadline: March 20, 2023

Mass Mutual Catalyst Fund (MMCF)

$25 million to target investments in Black-owned, founded, or managed businesses across Massachusetts.

What we look for
Geography: Companies must have headquarters and/or significant operations in Massachusetts.

Ownership/Founding Teams: Companies must be Black-owned and remain majority Black-owned after investment.

Impact: MMCF portfolio companies will create positive economic impact in MA. In addition, MMCF prefers companies where environmental, social or governance impact are an intrinsic part of the company’s product or service.

Currently accepting applications.

Massachusetts Small Business Growth Fund

Entrepreneurs of color in Massachusetts have an unmet capital demand estimated at $574 million annually.

LISC’s entrepreneur-friendly Massachusetts Small Business Growth Fund is critically needed to fill gaps in capital access.

Currently accepting inquiries.

small business technical assistance

Whether you want to launch, pivot, or expand your small business, the goal of our free Small Business Technical Assistance (SBTA) program is to equip you with foundational business operations knowledge and practical guidance on business development issues, tasks, and initiatives.

Currently accepting applications for the next round of SBTA clients.

MBDA small business center’s Covid-19 relief

COVID 19 Project Small Business Center expands support to our most vulnerable New England minority-owned businesses across Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts. Objective of this grant is to help our smallest minority-owned companies prepare for, and respond to, the continued effects of the coronavirus

COVID-19 Project launched July 1st and is actively recruiting new clients in all six New England states.

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