Through this Request for Proposals, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (“MassCEC”) launches the Climate-Critical Underrepresented Business Support (“CUBS”) Grants, the next iteration of the Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprise (“MWBE”) Support Grants, through the Equity Workforce Program.
Donor Name: Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (MassCEC)
State: Massachusetts
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/25/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
CUBS Grants fund initiatives that assist Massachusetts-based MWBEs and other underrepresented businesses (“Underrepresented Businesses”) entering and expanding in fields that are critical to meeting the Commonwealth’s climate goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. Historically, Underrepresented Businesses have faced systemic barriers resulting in limited access to capital, procurement and workforce challenges, and insufficient networks. Addressing these challenges is essential to ensuring Underrepresented Businesses can participate meaningfully in Massachusetts’ growing clean energy economy.
Goals
Climate-Critical Underrepresented Business Support (CUBS) Program Goals:
- Increase MWBE and underrepresented business activity in climate-critical business fields;
- Increase expertise of MWBEs and underrepresented businesses in climate-critical business fields;
- Grow employment and revenue of existing MWBEs and underrepresented businesses that operate in climate-critical business fields and continue long-term sustainability and growth strategies;
- Create new MWBE and underrepresented business firms in climate-critical fields and support healthy long-term growth of those firms;
- Bridge gaps in existing support systems for MWBEs and underrepresented businesses, ensuring alignment with broader clean-energy workforce and economic development initiatives;
- Develop tailored business pathways supporting MWBEs and underrepresented businesses unique needs and capacity levels; and
- Align with MassCEC-funded career pathway training programs by supporting MWBE and underrepresented businesses market development leading to growth of openings for occupations targeted by those training programs.
Funding Information
Applicants proposing a Hub may apply for Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00) to Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000.00) in funding for work completed over a period of two (2) or three (3) years. Applicants proposing a Spoke may apply for up to Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00) for work completed over one (1) or two (2) years.
Eligibility Criteria
- Single organizations or partnerships are eligible to apply. If multiple parties are applying jointly, one party should take on the role of Lead Applicant. The following entities are eligible to serve as a Lead Applicant:
- Non-profit organizations including Chamber of Commerce organizations, trade associations, clean energy incubators/accelerators, environmental justice organizations, and organizations representing tribes
- Academic institutions with a business support program
- For-profit entities such as clean energy installers, energy efficiency, or home performance contractors, technical or workforce training organizations, financial institutions or other clean energy practitioners
- Additional eligibility requirements:
- Lead Applicant must have a Massachusetts office or staffing.
- Applicants are not required to have experience in clean energy or climate-critical business fields.
- This funding is not intended to benefit a single underrepresented business, but instead is intended to support the establishment and growth of a regional Hub and Spoke model that helps underrepresented businesses grow and excel in climate-critical business sectors.
For more information, visit MassCEC.
