Resources
A diverse community of business owners enriches our food economy. Yet, some people face heightened obstacles when launching or expanding their businesses. Women and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and the LGBTQ+ community experience discrimination and lack access to capital,. In a challenging business landscape, these entrepreneurs seek out creative solutions to thrive,.
Equal access to support for all food businesses benefits residents and our State as a whole. In addition to the resources in Chapter 10, Chapter 11 provides additional resources for Women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. The organizations listed offer access to business education, capital, and other assistance. Some of them serve specific groups within these communities. The list provides a summary of each organization’s mission, target community, types of support offered, and contact information.
Please find the resources below.
FOOD BUSINESSES |
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Organization |
Region |
Key Issues |
Target Population |
Support Offered |
Contact info |
Greater Boston |
strengthening the capacity, connections, and collective power of diverse entrepreneurs to start and grow successful food businesses |
apparent focus on women & BIPOC, but not exclusive |
shared kitchen space, Business development, product development, food safety & labeling, sales & marketing |
through FAQ page: http://www.commonwealthkitchen.org/contact |
|
low income communities MA, Cambridge |
Foster and support food entrepreneurs in MA, sustainable food jobs for low-income Cambridge residents, support sustainable food tech & ingredients |
apparent focus on low income residents & BIPOC, but not exclusive |
Consulting services, including regulatory compliance, financial literacy, marketing, operations, recruitment, product & process development |
contact form on home page |
|
UTEC (originally known as United Teen Equality Center but now goes by UTEC, Inc.) |
Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill |
nonprofit organization dedicated to helping young adults (ages 17-25) overcome poverty, unemployment, gang involvement, and cultural barriers that are pervasive in the communities we serve |
low-income/otherwise at-risk youth |
Training in food service, food safety, and production, community kitchen space available for rental |
978.856.3951 uteckitchen@utecinc.org |
AGRICULTURE |
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Organization |
Region |
Key Issues |
Target Population |
Support Offered |
Contact info |
located in NY, offerings not region-specific |
inclusive community, skill development for BIPOC farmers |
focus on black farmers, serve BIPOC population |
online courses for skill development, in-person farming immersion courses |
518-880-9372, love@soulfirefarm.org |
|
Northeast |
To advance land sovereignty in the northeast region through permanent and secure land tenure for Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Asian farmers and land stewards |
BIPOC |
currently offering a variety of webinars, in process of establishing a land trust that will offer land at affordable prices for POC farmers |
contact form on website or social media |
|
National |
hunger, land loss, food sovereignty in Black community |
Black farmers |
technical assistance/training, networking, events |
434-676-6232 |
|
National |
resilience and community for women in agriculture |
women-identifying |
education, leadership development, events |
aaw@americanagriwomen.org |
|
National |
sustainable farming and innovative agriculture practices which preserve the cultural and biological diversity, the agroecological balance of the local environment |
Black farmers, other underserved communities |
technical assistance, marketing assistance, events |
510-379-8600 |
|
National |
Valuing and elevating LGBT agriculturists through advocacy, education, and community. |
LGBTQ |
education, networking, events |
415-902-2239, info@cultivatingchangefoundation.org |
GENERAL SUPPORT |
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Organization |
Region |
Key Issues |
Target Population |
Support Offered |
Contact info |
MA |
advance the economic well-being of Black businesses, organizations that serve the Black community and Black residents of Massachusetts |
Black residents of Massachusetts |
advocacy, meetings, and events (such as the Mass. Black Expo), connect Black business owners with investors, contracts |
info@becma.org |
|
MA |
making business a vehicle for social, environmental, and economic change |
local entrepreneurs - no specific mention of BIPOC |
Offer affordable technical assistance, promote locally owned independent food businesses |
info@sbnmass.org |
|
MA |
accelerating economic and social impact in communities nationwide through inclusive entrepreneurship |
“under-represented individuals” |
EforAll Accelerator - free, one-year program offered twice a year |
1-833-336-7255 |
|
National, headquartered in Roxbury |
urban economic development |
residents of inner cities across US |
Capacity-building education, one-on-one coaching, connection to capital & capital providers |
617-238-1740, sdesmond@icic.org |
|
MA |
increase opportunities for certified businesses and Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP) participants |
Woman, BIPOC, LGBTQ, veteran, disability |
certifies diverse businesses, business programs that enhance the marketability of small and diverse businesses when they bid on public contracts |
617-502-8851, sdp@mass.gov |
|
Boston & Miami (online offerings for Fall 2020) |
provide community & support to women entrepreneurs, catalyze innovation, enable them to successfully scale |
women-identifying founders looking to grow business, scholarships for Women of Color |
fully virtual, 12-week venture accelerator. Teaches methodology, offers one-on-one coaching |
Kara Miller (Program Director) - kmiller5@babson.edu |
|
MA |
providing small business owners and entrepreneurs in Massachusetts with the tools and guidance needed to become successful in today’s challenging economic climate |
general, with focus on inclusivity |
Business Advisory Services, international trade assistance, government contracting |
413-545-6301 |
|
New England |
nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people start and grow their businesses |
women-identifying |
education, training, technical assistance, women’s business enterprise certification |
Eastern MA office: 617-536-0700, Central MA office: 508-363-2300 |
|
New England |
expand business opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), connect MBEs to Corporate Companies |
BIPOC |
one-on-one consulting and training, advanced leadership training |
617-578-8900 |
|
National |
cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise |
offices for women-, Native American-, LGBT- & veteran-owned businesses |
free counseling, access to SBA-backed loans, disaster relief, improved access to government contracts |
800-827-5722, answerdesk@sba.gov |
|
National |
provide access to capital for black and brown women founders |
Black/Brown Women |
online community, pitch events, various educational materials |
Online community - bgvonnect.org |
|
National |
provide business education and training to potential founders |
Black entrepreneurs |
boot camps, traveling workshops, free educational content on social media channels |
contact form on homepage |
|
National |
nationwide nonprofit lending network |
populations underrepresented in business ownership |
fair and flexible loans, connections to business experts, and access to resources and opportunities |
(866) 245-0783 |
|
National |
invest in the success and sustainability of women-owned small businesses |
women-identifying |
Access to capital, entrepreneurial education, mentoring/networking opportunities |
||
National |
empower women-business owners and foster entrepreneurship |
women-identifying |
educational resources, online programming, mentorship and networking, leadership development programs |
800-556-2926 |
|
National |
provide access to capital through capital raise strategy |
specific emphasis on Hispanic businesses |
educational resources, workshops & virtual round tables, mentor education, connections with investors |
https://aspencapitalfund.com/join/ |
|
National |
provide access to credit for communities that are often not supported by traditional lenders |
specifically targets non-traditional lendees (low credit, etc.) |
community-funded loans, 0% interest up to $15,000 |
contact form on site |
|
National |
provide assistance to & advocate for minority owned businesses |
BIPOC |
loans/grants, educational resources, business services, internship programs |
||
National |
economic empowerment for Black businesses and individuals in the US |
Black business owners, entrepreneurs |
access to capital through Capital Pathways programs, networking events, educational resources |
||
National |
Accelerate the success of venture-scale, women and non-binary founded companies |
women-identifying & nonbinary founded companies |
free accelerator program, very competitive |
360-347-6157, team@femalefounders.org |
|
National |
nonprofit organization that helps women to establish thriving businesses in urban communities |
women-identifying |
grants, advisory services, entrepreneurial training, technical assistance |
212-563-0499, program@wvf-ny.org |
|
National |
LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce |
LGBTQ & Allied |
networking, educational resources |
216-243-7510, info@thinkplexus.org |
|
National |
Venture Capital firm that invests in women-owned businesses |
women-identifying |
Events, free online resources |
pitches@femalefoundersfund.org |