- Government
- Departments
- Economic Development
- Small Business Assistance
Small Business Assistance
- COVID-19 Impacted Businesses
- Business Counseling
- Financial Assistance
- Procurement Assistance with Government Contracts
COVID-19 Impacted Businesses
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is offering and/or partnering with other federal and economic development organizations to provide new forms of financial and counseling assistance. The latest programs and resources are centrally listed and can be accessed on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts COVID-19 Resources.
Further information on these and other resources can be linked to below:
- U.S. Small Business Administration’s Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
- Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council COVID-19 Resources
- Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Small Business Assistance for COVID-19
- Common Capital’s Fast Track Loan Program
- A loan fund of $10 million has been created to provide financial relief to Massachusetts businesses that have been affected by COVID-19. Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) will receive and process all applications for this fund. Applications can be found on MGCC’s website at empoweringsmallbusiness.org. As of March 20, 2020 this loan fund has reached its loan capacity but future loan payments will replenish the fund.
- WorkShare Program (Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development) - In terms of employer-related services, the WorkShare program is one of the state’s primary tools to help small businesses avoid layoffs during a downturn. More information on that program can be found here.
Business Counseling & Financial Assistance
The organizations listed below offer free business counseling and some also offer financial assistance either as a direct lender or guaranteeing loans from banks or non-bank lenders. .
Valley Community Development Corporation
The Valley Community Development Corporation (VCDC) offers small business counseling to individuals as well as a small business development program designed to meet the needs of small businesses with less than 20 employees. Services include business plan development, cash flow analysis and marketing advice, VCDC also offers one-on-one counseling, workshops, seminars and credit counseling.
Contact Information:
Dee Dice, Small Business Coordinator
Valley Community Development Corporation
256 Pleasant Street - Suite A
Northampton, MA 010601
Phone: (413) 586-5855 Ext. 235
Franklin County Community Development Corporation
The Franklin County Community Development Corporation (FCCDC) is an economic development non profit organization providing comprehensive business counseling expertise, access to capital along with offering commercial office and manufacturing space for emerging businesses.The FCCDC is home of the Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center.
The FCCDC finances both start-up and existing small businesses for a wide range of purposes for over 37 years. Support is offered to entrepreneurs in a variety of industries with an emphasis on supporting business committed to creating jobs.
Contact Information:
Franklin County Community Development Corporation
324 Wells Street
Greenfield, MA 01301
Phone: (413) 774-7204
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center
The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) provides one-to-one free comprehensive and confidential services 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. A full time staff of business advisers, supported by the resources of their host academic institutions provides free small business assistance to small businesses.
Contact Information:
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center
Tillson House
23 Tillson Farm Road
Amherst, MA 01003
Phone: (413) 545-6301
SCORE
SCORE provides free and confidential business consultation to new and established businesses offering business plan preparation, budgeting,financing and marketing. SCORE maintains a satellite presence locally at the offices of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce.
Contact Information:
SCORE
1 Federal Street
Springfield, MA 01105
Phone: (413) 785-0314
Financial Assistance
Northampton Emergency Small Business Grant Program
The City of Northampton and Valley Community Development Corporation (Valley CDC) are partnering in offering the Northampton Emergency Small Business Grant Program.
The purpose of these grants is to provide funds to low and moderate income businesses to assist them in remaining open, as well as stimulating and pivoting their businesses during this time of COVID-19 and in the future. The maximum grant is under $10,000 and the minimum grant will be $2,500. The application process opened Wednesday, April 15, 2020. As this is a new and developing program, please stay in touch with the Valley CDC Northampton Emergency Small Business Grant Program pages for the most up-to-date information.
Complete the Grant Application
Please use the Neighborly Software to process your application.
Valley Community Development Corporation
The Valley Community Development Corporation provides small business counseling as well as connections to financial resources offered by organizations such as Common Capital and the Small Business Administration listed below.
Contact Information:
Valley Community Development Corporation
256 Pleasant Street - Suite A
Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: (413) 586-5855
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration offers business counseling, financial assistance, training courses along with many other resources for small and start-up businesses. There are several financial assistance programs such as the 7(a) Loan Program which serve new or existing businesses. Although the SBA is not a direct lender, it does work with banks and non-bank lenders to guarantee loans. The SBA offers many innovative resources and services that are well defined on their web site.
Contact Information:
Small Business Administration
1 Federal Street - Building 101-R
Springfield, MA 01105
Phone: (413) 785-0484
Common Capital
Common Capital is a community loan fund, operating since 1990, providing financial and business advisory services to small and medium sized businesses, startups and to non-profits throughout Western Massachusetts. Borrowers receive free or low cost business advisory services from a network of qualified business consultants with expertise in all aspects of business development.
Contact Information:
Common Capital
120 Maple Street
Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: (413) 233-1680
Procurement Assistant with Government Contracts
Government Contracting Assistance
The Massachusetts Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) provides education regarding requirements to successfully perform federal, state and local government contracts. Guidance is offered on drafting proposals, contract performance standards and other aspects of public sector contracting.
Contact Information:
Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Tillson House - 23 Tillson Farm Road
Amherst, MA 01003
Phone: (413) 545-6307
Contact
-
Work: 413-587-1249
Fax: 413-587-1275
mayor@northamptonma.gov
Address
210 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.