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New Year, New Funding, New Opportunities.
A new year brings new aspirations and opportunities to build your business bigger and better. LISC Boston is kicking off 2022 by helping your existing small business get on track or to take your startup to the next level. Jump start the new year with these resources, news, insights, grants and finance opportunities below.
Funding Opportunities
Empower Digital Grant Loosens Eligibility
You may now qualify! Having a storefront, brick-and-mortar is no longer one of the eligibility requirements to access the MGCC Empower Digital Grant. This grant program provides funding for the needs of Massachusetts-based small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals seeking tools and services to develop their digital capacity. Sponsorship required to apply. Read an overview of the program for more.
Grant Funds Still Available for Biz-M-Power
Always dream of leasing a facility to expand your business, or purchasing equipment that can take your product and business to the next level? Use crowdfunding to raise capital with help from Patronicity, a localized crowdfunding platform, and the Biz-M-Power matching grant program from MGCC to receive up to $40,000 in grants!
Not enough family and friends in your social network? Patronicity coaches and Small Business Strong Advisors can provide free technical assistance to get your project set up and to help your business connect with local residents and others to support the success of your business. Watch this video to learn more.
If you would like to receive technical assistance with your Biz-M-Power application, contact Tina Petigny, tpetigny@lisc.org, or Small Business Strong.
Building a Strong Financial Foundation for 2022
If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to make your business financially stronger, this is the workshop for you.
Join Small Business Strong on Thursday, January 20th, to learn how to strengthen your financial foundation for 2022 and get your business financials in order so you can access the $75 million COVID-19 relief funds that will become available from the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) soon.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
- How to take advantage of tax breaks available in 2021
- What financial data is important in your business and why
- How to keep good financial data and what tools you can use
- How to prepare and understand your financial statements
- How to be ready for the new $75m state COVID-relief grant
Whether you just started or have been in business for a while, this is the time to learn how to manage your business’ finances properly so your business can grow sustainably.
Manage Your Talent
Is your small business struggling to hire staff? Small Business Strong’s advisors can provide you with tips for hiring and retention. Reach out today for free assistance.
LISC is the Program Manager for Small Business Strong, a non-profit organization that provides expedited, pro-bono support for women and entrepreneurs of color navigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their businesses.
Verizon Digital Ready Platform – Business Resources on Demand
Like television on demand, get access to expert advice, guidance and tons of business resources – whenever you want. Whether you’re a new business or growing your existing business. Sign Up for Verizon Small Business Digital Ready to access business resources, coaching, community networking, and a marketplace of specially curated tools, products and services for your business.
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready delivers online learning tools through a range of short courses, live coaching events, one-to-one coaching sessions, and a range of “Ask the Experts” events and grant opportunities to help support your business needs.
The Coalition for an Equitable Economy is accepting applications for Coalition Director
The Coalition for an Equitable Economy (CEE) seeks a CEE Director. The Director will serve in a leadership role with multifaceted work with Coalition leadership and key stakeholders to support the Coalition's approach to develop and advance a vision and strategy for an equitable and inclusive small business ecosystem in Massachusetts.
UPDATE: Seventy-Five Million is coming for minority-, women-, and veteran-owned small businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic.
The American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) spending bill signed by Governor Charlie Baker includes $75 million for Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) to offer grant relief to small businesses that have yet to receive federal recovery funds and those in priority categories such as businesses owned by or serving certain disadvantaged and historically underrepresented groups and people. Funds will provide relief to cover payroll, mortgage interest, rent, utilities and other debt obligations.
Women-Owned Restaurant Grant Still Accepting Applications
There's still funding to support women-owned restaurants. The Massachusetts Conference for Women and Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA) is providing $300,000 in funding to support women-owned restaurants. The 2021 initiative will provide $5,000 grants to more than 60 restaurants.
Small Business Workshops on Business Fundamentals
Join Valley Community Development Corporation and Dee Dice for a series of FREE, monthly, recurring workshops focused on business fundamentals. Designed for existing businesses and those planning to start a business. These workshops will provide a structure for starting and managing your venture. Topics include: Business Plans and models; Financing Options; Marketing, marketing planning, and research; Importance of Bookkeeping; Developing your team; Goals and next steps; and Choosing your legal form of organization.
Book(keeping) Club
Join this monthly drop-in Book(keeping) Club hosted by the Center for Women & Enterprise to get the structure and support you need to take charge of your business finances! Whether you are a startup business or in operation for years, this hands-on working group will introduce basic best practices for bookkeeping and financial management, provide non-judgmental peer support to move through barriers, and allow space for individual questions and time to work on your books. January 12th from 12 pm - 1 pm.
Become a Digital Media Creator with Canva -
Session II
Welcome to Canva, an all-in-one platform that allows you to create stunning presentations, edit images, add graphics, and turn it all into a video with music and animations. In this six-session series (come-to-one-or-come-to-all), we will cover the full functionality of the Canva platform and how to use it for enhancing your digital presence. Click below to sign up. Hosted by the Center for Women & Enterprise, January 20th from 12 pm - 1 pm.
Start-A-Food-Business Workshop
CommonWealth Kitchen's 2-hour Start-A-Food-Business workshop is perfect for aspiring food business entrepreneurs in the idea-stage and the about-to-launch phase of food business growth. Workshop offered in English on Jan 19th and Spanish on Feb 23rd.
Building Business Credit - Part 1
As a business owner, business credit is so important -- especially when it comes to scaling. This webinar is designed to help entrepreneurs better understand business credit, what it entails, and how to take action early to mitigate financial challenges to best prepare for opportunities to scale. First of a 3-part series on business credit. Hosted by the Center for Women & Enterprise. Click below to register for this and other sessions.
3-Day Cannabis Licensing Workshop - Boston CannaBiz 101
In partnership with the City of Boston's Economic Development department, the Core Cannabis Museum is hosting a 3-day Workshop for Boston residents, residents outside of Boston, entrepreneurs, and Social Equity and Economic Empowerment applicants looking to participate in the Cannabis industry. Learn detailed information on the licensing process or the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) the CCC requires of cannabis companies. Join Boston CannaBiz 101 on Tuesday, January 18th, Wednesday, January 19th, and Thursday, January 20th from 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Exploring the Role of Worker Co-ops in Economic Development
Worker-owned cooperatives provide a business model that can help BIPOC and underserved communities to build businesses and wealth by leveraging their collective social and economic assets. This two day workshop will introduce the co-op model, its strengths and challenges, and explore the role that CDCs in this state could play in strengthening worker ownership and economic democracy. The workshop is hosted by the Mel King Institute for Community Building on January 20th and 27th from 9:30am - 11:30am.
Business Builders: Census Data for Small Businesses
Learn how to access statistics on the characteristics of customers in your market, businesses in your industry, and much more using the Census Business Builder. The Mel King Institute for Community Building offers training designed for entrepreneurs interested in growing their business, raising their awareness of their market and local competition, researching site locations, and developing a business plan, among many other uses. The Census Business Builder allows you to visualize these data on a map of your selected area, as well as to produce a data report that can be used for your business plan. Join on January 25th from 10:00am to 12:00pm.
Steps to Start a Business
If you are considering starting a business or in the early stages of launching one, this workshop will outline everything you need to know. Hosted by the Center for Women & Enterprise on January 26th from 3 pm - 4 pm.
About Local Initiatives Support Corporation
LISC is one of the country's largest community development support organizations, but we have deep local roots, having invested more than $414 million in Massachusetts communities for nearly 40 years.
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