Grants to boost business training in Fitchburg and Lowell areas
MassDevelopment recently announced $4.5 million in grants from the Small Business Technical Assistance Program to help 55 community and economic development organizations that provide services to Massachusetts small businesses, with local agencies getting significant grants.
The grants, ranging from $40,000 to $104,000, will help the organizations expand advising, training and capital access programs for businesses with fewer than 20 employees.
Funding supports one-on-one technical assistance, business skills workshops and improved pathways to financing, helping small and microbusinesses start, stabilize and grow.
• The North Central Massachusetts Development Corp. of Fitchburg, will receive $90,400.
• NewVue Communities, Inc., of Fitchburg, will receive $87,100.
• Community Teamwork, Inc., of Lowell, will receive $80,000.
In addition, the program funds professional development for service providers through “train-the-trainer” opportunities, including workshops, peer learning, and partnerships with educational institutions.
The Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations, an association of mission-driven community development organizations, will receive $65,000 in funding from the SBTA program to administer this professional development and capacity-building programming for business-serving organizations.
“Massachusetts’ competitiveness depends on the strength of our small businesses,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “These grants will help entrepreneurs access the expertise and financing pathways that turn ideas into growing companies and jobs across the state.”
“From Gateway Cities to rural towns, small businesses are driving innovation and opportunity in every corner of Massachusetts,” said Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll. “This funding will strengthen the nonprofit partners who help entrepreneurs build skills, access capital, and take the next step toward long-term growth.”
“Small businesses succeed when entrepreneurs have access to the right expertise and the capital to act on it,” said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. “This program connects business owners with the training, technical support and financing pathways that can make the difference between an idea and a growing company.”
“Massachusetts is fortunate to have a large ecosystem of organizations that provide high-touch, high-impact programming aimed at empowering and addressing the needs of small businesses,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Navjeet Bal. “Grants from our Small Business Technical Assistance Program enable these organizations to deliver and improve their programming, helping small businesses meet their goals and succeed in our state.”
Administered by MassDevelopment on behalf of the state, the Small Business Technical Assistance Program was created in 2006 to empower small business support organizations, such as community development corporations, community development financial institutions and other nonprofit business service providers, to increase access to business planning support and capital for underserved small businesses throughout the state. Last year, in Fiscal Year 2025, MassDevelopment awarded $6.7 million in grants from the Small Business Technical Assistance Program to 73 organizations; this funding helped grant recipients deliver assistance to 4,740 small businesses across Massachusetts and unlock a total of $117 million in capital to help these companies meet their goals.
MassDevelopment, the state’s development finance agency and land bank, delivers financing solutions, real estate expertise and other assistance to strengthen and grow the Massachusetts economy. MassDevelopment works with businesses, nonprofits, developers, banks and municipalities, providing resources to help create jobs, build housing and foster vibrant communities across the state. During FY2025, MassDevelopment financed or managed 409 projects generating investment of more than $4.65 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 25,246 jobs and build or preserve 2,867 housing units.
Posted Mar 8, 2026, 1:11 PM UTC