Resources

Maximize the value of your diverse and small business certification by exploring training, bidding opportunities, and capacity building, as well as financial and technical assistance.

Introduction

SDO certification is important to securing procurement and contracting public design and construction opportunities with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and its prime contractors.

This page offers resources for navigating the procurement process for design and construction contracts and accessing capital, training, networking, and bidding opportunities.

The SDO’s goal is to connect business owners with resources to help them succeed as bidders, contractors, or partners in Commonwealth design and construction procurements.

Inclusion on this list is not, and shall not be construed to be, an endorsement of any company, organization, or product or service rendered.

GENERAL RESOURCES: 

• Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) — Business Front Door Resource Guide  
• Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) —– List of Assistance Organizations
• Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) —– List of Organizational Partnerships & Resources for Diverse & Small Businesses
• MassDevelopment — Small Business Resources Directory
• Small Business Toolkit, developed by State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg & Team
• Small Business Strong —– Free Resources for Minority and Women-Owned Small Businesses 

MENTORING: 

State/Federal Resources  

• Massachusetts Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC – through UMass Amherst) - Counseling for Small Businesses

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) - Mentor-Protégé Program 

  Industry Resources

• SCORE —– Mentor Program
• Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC) and the Minority Business Development Center (MBDA) - One on One Consulting
• Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA) Contact: Nicole Obi President & CEO [e-mail]  BECMA Website

• Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) - Consulting & Mentorship (requires subscription/membership) 

  GC/CM Resources – *Broader list for use outside of the Holyoke website* 

• SDO/DCAMM to fill this in as they see fit

TECHNICAL:

Establishing a Business & Business Support

• SBA – Business Guide
• SBA – Ascent (for Women Entrepreneurs)
• SBA – Boots to Business (for Transitioning Service Members)
• SCORE – Business Training
• Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) — – Building for Growth

• Next Street - Paid Consultant and Learning Services

  Getting Involved in Public Construction Work

• Office of the Inspector General — – Designing & Constructing Public Facilities Manual
• DCAMM Outreach Presentations — – Bi-Monthly
• Educates on public bidding, SDO certification, DCAMM certification, upcoming projects and more
• PTAC —  - Training for Bidding Public Work and more

SDO Certification Process

• Takes 60–-90 calendar days

  DCAMM Certification Process

• DCAMM Contractor Certification
• Only necessary for prime contractors > $150k and specific trades > $25k
• Takes 60–-90 calendar days 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:

Financing/Commercial Construction Funding

• Office of State Treasurer — Small Business Banking Partnership
• Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation
  • Contact: Stephen Spinney Senior Loan Officer — Central & Western Mass.  
    [e-mail] [phone]
• BDC Community Capital
• MassDevelopment
• Eastern Bank
• Rockland Trust

• Bank of Canton

  Bonds

• SBA — Surety Bond Program

• Surety Bond Professionals

  Grants

• BECMA — List of External Grants

WORKFORCE:

Provide Businesses with Workforce Resources

• Mass Building Trades (Union Workers)
• MassHire — ten regional offices
• Building Mass Careers
• Job Corps Center
  • Westover Job Corps Center — Chicopee, MA
  • Grafton Job Corps Center — North Grafton, MA

    1. Contact: Matthew Middleton

       T: [phone] | M: [phone]

• Community Works — Serving Western MA
• Helmets to Hardhats
  • Contact: Rob Schwartz 
    [e-mail]
• Commonwealth Corporation (CommCorp)
• The Policy Group on Tradeswomen’s Issues (PGTI)
• YouthBuild — Worcester
• YouthBuild — Connecticut River Valley

GENERAL INDUSTRY RESOURCES & ORGANIZATIONS:

• Association of General Contractors (AGC) — Massachusetts Chapter
• Associated Subcontractors of Massachusetts (ASM)
• Massachusetts Building Congress
• Massachusetts Minority Contractors Association (MMCA)
• Professional Women in Construction (PWC) — Boston Chapter
• Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC)
• Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) — Massachusetts Center
• Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA)