Small Business Assistance & Resources

There are many state and federal programs designed specifically to assist small businesses. Below you will find links that provide additional information about some of these programs.
 
We also invite you to visit Congressman McGovern's Business Opportunities with the Federal Government page, another useful resource on this topic.
 
 
USA.gov - Business Gateway  (website available in multiple languages)
Always a good place to start, the business gateway on the federal government’s official website acts as a clearinghouse for all things business related. You will find links and information for many of the other resources listed below.
The Massachusetts Department of Business Development (DBD) and its associated agencies assist companies which want to locate, expand, grow, or maintain a presence in Massachusetts.
The Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA was created in 1953 to ensure a strong and vibrant small business sector. Changes in our economy, in technology, and in society as a whole have changed the environment for small businesses, creating new opportunities, reducing barriers to success and offering new challenges. The SBA continues to maintain and strengthen the economy by aiding, counseling, assisting and protecting the interests of small businesses.

The SBA offers something for all small businesses, whether it is access to capital, entrepreneurial development, government contracting or just plain information.
 
The Massachusetts SBA Offices
The Massachusetts SBA Office is responsible for the delivery of SBA's many programs and services throughout the state. Offices are located in Boston and Springfield.

Free counseling and technical assistance, pre-business and business planning workshops, and information on starting and managing a small business are offered through the Service Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE). Free counseling services are also available through a statewide network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). The SBDCs also conduct numerous training events throughout the state. Some require a nominal registration fee.
 
The Center for Women & Enterprise, SBA's women's business center in Massachusetts, with locations in Boston and Worcester, provides counseling and training services to women thinking about starting a business and women already operating a business. Visit the CWE website or call the Boston center at 617-536-0700 or the Worcester center at 508-363-3233
Business.gov
Business.gov guides you through the maze of government rules and regulations, locate government services from federal, state and local agencies, and provide access to services and resources to help you start, grow, and succeed in business.
WomenBiz.gov
This site connects women-owned businesses to federal agencies that procure supplies from small businesses. The website helps businesswomen understand the federal procurement process.
The IRS also provides a page dedicated to small businesses. In addition to tax-related information, helpful resources are available for the self-employed and small business owner.
USDA Office of Rural Development - Business Development Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development offers grants and loan programs to small businesses which are focused on expanding, creating and saving rural employment opportunities.
The OSDBU was established June 26, 1979 for the purpose of fostering the use of small, disadvantaged and women-owned businesses as federal contractors. There mission is to provide maximum opportunities for small businesses to participate in USDA contracting activities.
U.S. Department of Commerce
The U.S. Department of Commerce has a broad mandate to advance economic growth, jobs and opportunities for the American people. It has cross cutting responsibilities in the areas of trade, technology, entrepreneurship, economic development, environmental stewardship and statistical research and analysis.
U.S. Department of Labor
The Department of Labor fosters and promotes the welfare of the job seekers, wage earners, and retirees of the United States by improving their working conditions, advancing their opportunities for profitable employment, protecting their retirement and health care benefits, helping employers find workers, strengthening free collective bargaining, and tracking changes in employment, prices, and other national economic measurements. In carrying out this mission, the Department administers a variety of Federal labor laws including those that guarantee workers’ rights to safe and healthful working conditions; a minimum hourly wage and overtime pay; freedom from employment discrimination; unemployment insurance; and other income support.
Department of Labor: Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA's mission is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. The EEOC also has the authority to investigate charges of discrimination against employers who are covered by the law.