The Construction Advancement Grant program aims to support Certified Minority and Women-Owned Worcester-based businesses in construction or construction related sectors with operational expenses related to their business to provide greater capacity for contracting opportunities.
Donor Name: City of Worcester
State: Massachusetts
City: Worcester
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: All Time
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The M/WBE Construction Advancement Grant Program aims to reduce historical disparities in public contracting and promote greater equity in the construction industry by expanding the capacity of Worcester-based certified Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (WBE) to do business in public and private markets.
The City of Worcester (City) has recommended $445,000 in funding to establish the M/WBE Construction Advancement Grant Program to support Worcester-based small businesses in the construction industry and construction-related industries by providing resources to enhance their operational capacity to compete more effectively for contracting opportunities. This program is funded by settlement funds received through the Attorney General’s False Claims Division.
This program builds off the City’s Diverse Business Certification Grant Program aimed at growing the number of new certifications for Worcester-based diverse small businesses as a part of a broader Minority and Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Initiative. The objectives of this program are to:
- Help small businesses be better positioned for contracting opportunities with government entities, institutions, and other businesses.
- Build a pipeline of procurement ready M/WBEs capable of serving as both prime and subprime contractors on publicly funded construction projects.
- Support construction and construction-related businesses with operational expenses related to their business to provide greater capacity to compete for contracting opportunities.
Funding Information
Each eligible business can receive between $10,000 – $25,000.00 in grant funding from this program dependent on evaluation criteria. Grant funding requests will be capped at 25% of business yearly expenses, up to $25,000.
Uses of Funds
- Bonding & Insurance
- Rent & Utilities
- Equipment & Inventory
- Financial Management Software & Services
- Construction Management Software or Estimating Tools
- Professional Licensing & Certifications
- Consultant Services
- Payroll Costs
- Apprenticeship Programs
- Storage Costs.
Eligibility Criteria
- Certified business by the SDO or recognized third-party certifying agencies
- To be eligible for this program, businesses must already be Certified or working towards their Certification as a Minority-Owned (MBE) or Women-Owned (WBE) business enterprise by the Supplier Diversity Office or other recognized third-party certifying agencies
- Certified Minority-Owned Businesses (MBE)
- Certified Women-Owned Businesses (WBE)
- Businesses who are not yet Certified are eligible to apply to this fund, application will not be considered complete until the applicant provides Certification Letter from Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office.
- An active for-profit business located within the City of Worcester
- Businesses must have their operations physically located and registered within the City of Worcester.
- Business must already be established and operating to participate in this program.
- Business must have been formed in 2024 or prior and provide at least one-year of Federal Business Tax Returns (2024 or prior).
- Business must be in the construction sector or construction-related sectors
- Applicant business must be engaged in the construction sector or produce a good/service related to the construction sector.
- Core Construction Sector
- Construction-Related Sectors
- Provide grant reporting with supporting documentation detailing how grant funds were used.
- If awarded, businesses must be able to provide receipts and/or a grant report detailing how grant funds were used to support operational expenses and how funds will build capacity in participating in public contracting opportunities.
- Be in good standing with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and City of Worcester
- Businesses must provide a Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and sign a Certificate of Tax Compliance with their application.
- Businesses must not be currently listed on State Debarment Lists.”
For more information, visit City of Worcester.
