MassDevelopment has opened a new round of its Small Business Technical Assistance (SBTA) Program, offering grants of up to $150,000 to nonprofits that provide hands-on help to small and microbusinesses across Massachusetts.
The program is designed to fuel growth, stability, and job creation for businesses with fewer than 20 employees and less than $2.5 million in annual revenue.
Western Mass angle
For organizations in Central and Western Massachusetts, this round carries added weight. Historically, MassDevelopment’s Biz-M-Power grants have been concentrated in other parts of the state, so applicants from underrepresented regions may receive priority consideration.
That means nonprofits in Western Mass, already serving businesses in towns that often face limited access to resources, are in a strong position to secure support this year.
Program details
- Grants up to $150,000.
- Eligible applicants: CDCs, CDFIs, and Massachusetts-based nonprofits with established technical assistance programs.
- Programming must include one-on-one advising, group workshops, and improved access to financing.
- At least 85% of clients served must be existing businesses.
- Special priority for programs supporting minority, women, LGBTQ+, immigrant, rural, veteran, and cooperative businesses.
Why this can make a significant impact in Western Mass
Western Massachusetts is filled with microbusinesses: family-owned restaurants, neighborhood retailers, small manufacturers, farms, and creative entrepreneurs.
Many of these businesses struggle with access to capital, marketing support, and long-term stability. Grants from SBTA can help local nonprofits provide bookkeeping assistance, loan packaging support, digital marketing training, and more; services that often make the difference between a business surviving or shuttering.
Key dates
- RFP release: September 3, 2025.
- Deadline to apply: October 9, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
- Awards announced: November–December 2025.
Program priorities
- Expand availability and quality of technical assistance.
- Build nonprofit capacity.
- Increase equitable access for historically underserved entrepreneurs.
- Strengthen local/regional small business ecosystems.
Eligible applicants
- Massachusetts-based nonprofits (incorporated under Ch. 180, tax-exempt, fiscally stable).
- At least 85% of clients served must be existing businesses; ≤15% can be within 12 months of launch.
Priority groups
- Minority, women, LGBTQ+, immigrant, rural, low-moderate income, veteran, cooperative, ESOP, and disabled-owned businesses.
- Applicants serving Central and Western MA may receive extra scoring points.
Services funded
- One-on-one advising, cohort-based TA, training workshops.
- Areas include: business planning, financial health, loan readiness, marketing, operations, workforce, legal, and digital strategy.
Requirements
- Provide at least 5 hours of direct service per client.
- Collect and report detailed outcome data (business starts, stabilization, financing, job creation, etc.).
- Admin costs capped at 10% of grant funds.
Scoring (100 points total)
- Mission alignment (10), community knowledge (10), experience (10), program design (13), partnerships (10), outcomes (6), multilingual capacity (10), legislative priorities (12), and more.
- Applications must score at least 80 to be recommended for funding.
How to submit an application
Applications must be submitted through MassDevelopment’s Submittable platform. If you want more in-depth information, here is the full notice of funding availability. For nonprofits already providing services, this program is a chance to expand capacity. For Western Mass, it’s a great opportunity to pull in more state dollars to help the region’s small businesses grow stronger, together.
CONTRIBUTOR
Inc413 News Team
The Inc413 news team compiles business stories from across Western Massachusetts and beyond. Our primary focus is on stories that have an impact on small businesses, entrepreneurs, and the people they employ.
