Small Business Grants in Massachusetts
No Massachusetts state program on this page is open today. MassDevelopment says the Biz-M-Power deadline has passed.
No Massachusetts state program on this page is open today. MassDevelopment says the Biz-M-Power deadline has passed. The technical assistance round closed on June 26, 2026. Empower Digital is gone. It ended in 2023 and no longer appears on the agency list. What is left for a business right now is the tax credit route, and EDIP takes applications until November 4, 2026 for its December council meeting, alongside the federal programs below.
Which Massachusetts grants fit your business?
Answer 7 quick questions and we sort the 12 programs on this page into likely fits and long shots. Nothing personal is asked or stored, and final eligibility is always decided by the granting agency.
Massachusetts Small Business Grant Programs
State-administered funding programs available to Massachusetts small businesses. Verify deadlines directly with the granting agency before applying.
Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP)
Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD)
Varies (tax credits)
Deadline Nov 4, 2026One of the largest job creation incentive programs in the Commonwealth, offering tax credits to businesses that create jobs and invest in Massachusetts. In FY2026, 16 projects received $17.2 million in tax credits. Note: this is a tax credit program, not a direct grant.
Status check, Verified at mass.gov on August 21, 2026. EDIP is open. The Economic Assistance Coordinating Council meets quarterly and the published 2026 and 2027 schedule runs September 23, 2026 (applications were due August 12), December 16, 2026 (due November 4), March 24, 2027 (due February 10) and June 24, 2027 (due May 12). Awards typically run $10,000 to $15,000 per job created, weighted towards Gateway Cities, rural and small towns, and high priority sectors including technology, AI, climate tech, advanced manufacturing, medical and robotics. Credits are non refundable up to your tax liability and refundable above it. You apply through the Business Front Door portal, and the application needs three certificates of good standing dated within 90 days, from DOR, DUA and the Corporations Division, so start collecting them early.
Automated check, Aug 21, 2026
Biz-M-Power Matching Grant Program
MassDevelopment (Growth Capital Division)
$2,500–$20,000
Closed, no reopening date postedMatching grants for growth-oriented small and microbusinesses to offset costs of facility acquisition, expansion, equipment purchase, and other capital needs. Applicants must contribute a minimum of 20% of project costs.
Status check, Verified on the MassDevelopment grant programs page on August 19, 2026. The Biz-M-Power entry opens with the line that the deadline to submit an application has passed, and no reopening date is given. The program itself is still described, so a future round is possible, but nothing is open today. Applicants must show 20 percent of the owner's own funds at the point of application.
Automated check, Aug 19, 2026
SBIR Targeted Technologies (START) Grant Program
MassVentures
$100,000–$500,000
Deadline Feb 1, 2027Non-dilutive grants supporting commercialization of Massachusetts companies that have received federal SBIR or STTR Phase II awards. Covers market validation, business development, and IP strategy across sectors like biotech, AI, cleantech, and quantum computing.
Status check, The application window will reopen February 1st, 2027. Program awards grants of $100k, $200k, and up to $500k across three rounds to MA-based SBIR Phase II companies.
Automated check, Aug 26, 2026
Small Business Technical Assistance (SBTA) Grant Program
MassDevelopment
Up to $150,000 for FY27
Deadline Jun 26, 2026Grants to nonprofits that deliver technical assistance, business skills training, and access to capital to Massachusetts small businesses. Businesses access these services through funded SBTA provider organizations.
Status check, Verified on the MassDevelopment grant programs page on August 19, 2026, which now states that for FY27 grants of up to $150,000 are available. That replaces the $26,700 to $155,750 band we previously printed. The FY27 application window closed on June 26, 2026 and no new round is posted. Read the eligibility line carefully, this money goes to nonprofit providers such as certified CDCs and CDFIs, not to the small business itself. A business reaches it by using a funded organisation's free advising.
Automated check, Aug 19, 2026
Empower Digital Grant Program
MassDevelopment (Growth Capital Division)
Up to $5,000
Deadline Jun 30, 2023A matching grant to help small businesses improve their digital capabilities, including website development, POS systems, e-commerce, cybersecurity, and digital marketing. Applicants must work with an SBTA provider to apply.
Status check, Checked against the MassDevelopment grant programs page on August 19, 2026. Empower Digital no longer appears anywhere on it. The page lists fourteen programs and this is not one of them. The program ran from June 2021 and closed on June 30, 2023 once the funds were spent. Treat it as history, not as an option. Massachusetts businesses wanting help with digital tools should start with a nonprofit advising organisation funded through the SBTA program instead.
Automated check, Aug 19, 2026
Community One Stop for Growth
Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED)
$10,000–$500,000+
Deadline Jun 3, 2026A single application portal combining 12 state economic development grant programs for community-focused projects including commercial revitalization, infrastructure improvements, and site readiness. Over $558 million has been awarded across 283 communities since 2021.
Status check, The FY27 round full application deadline was June 3, 2026 at 11:59 p.m., which has passed.
Automated check, Aug 21, 2026
Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Local Program
MassDevelopment
Up to $125,000
Deadline Oct 31, 2025Grants funding locally developed small-business support programs in Gateway Cities, including storefront improvements, marketing campaigns, and technical assistance. Since 2015, MassDevelopment has invested $38 million in TDI districts.
Status check, Checked on the MassDevelopment grant programs page on August 19, 2026. The TDI Local Program round closed on October 31, 2025 and no new one is posted. What the page does now list is the TDI Equity Investment Program, which has been folded into the Community One Stop for Growth and invests in commercial property inside TDI districts. Transformative Development Initiative itself continues, the Local Program application round is what shut.
Automated check, Aug 19, 2026
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Tax Incentive Program
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC)
Varies (tax incentives)
Deadline Mar 31, 2026Tax incentives for life sciences companies engaged in R&D, commercialization, and manufacturing that commit to creating new long-term jobs in Massachusetts. MLSC has deployed approximately $1 billion across grants, loans, and incentives since 2007.
Status check, The MLSC funding programs page lists this incentive with Application Closed, March 31, 2026. MLSC has not posted a next window for it.
Automated check, Aug 25, 2026
Federal Grant Programs
These federal programs are available to small businesses in every state.
SBA 7(a) Loan Program
The SBA's primary lending program guarantees loans through participating lenders. This is a loan, not a grant. But the terms favor small businesses that may not qualify for conventional financing.
Status check, This is a loan program, not a grant. The 7(a) Loan Program provides loan guarantees to lenders for small business loans up to $5 million. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis through participating SBA lenders.
Learn moreAutomated check, Aug 25, 2026
SBA Microloan Program
Loans up to $50,000, not grants. You borrow from a nonprofit lender near you, not from the SBA itself. The money can cover working capital, inventory, supplies or equipment. Most people get far less than the cap. The average microloan is about $13,000.
Status check, Verified July 30, 2026 at sba.gov. Rates run 8 to 13 percent. The longest term allowed is seven years. Your lender sets both, not the SBA, so two owners can be quoted very different deals. There is no deadline. You apply through an SBA approved lender in your area.
Learn moreAutomated check, Aug 21, 2026
SBIR/STTR Grants
Competitive federal grants for small businesses doing research and development with commercial potential. Eleven federal agencies take part. Phase I funds proof of concept. Phase II funds full development.
Status check, Verified July 30, 2026 at sbir.gov. Two different figures get quoted for this program and both are real. As of April 2026 an agency may award up to $323,090 at Phase I and up to $2,153,927 at Phase II without SBA approval, and anything above that needs a waiver. Those are ceilings, not typical awards. Each agency sets its own amounts in its own solicitation, and the sbir.gov agency table currently runs from $50,000 to $300,000 at Phase I and $400,000 to $1.83 million at Phase II. There is no single deadline. You apply through a participating agency.
Learn moreAutomated check, Aug 21, 2026
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Programs
Help for minority owned businesses that need capital, contracts or new markets. MBDA runs business centers around the country. They give advice, help with bids, and point you toward lenders.
Status check, The business centers still run. The grants are a different story. Those windows are short, and they fund groups rather than single businesses. The last one we could find closed in February 2025. We found no open MBDA grant that a small business can apply for today.
View program pageAutomated check, Aug 19, 2026
Get Grant-Ready
Before you apply, most Massachusetts grant programs expect these basics to be in place.
Form your business entity
Most Massachusetts grant programs require applicants to be a registered LLC, corporation, or nonprofit. If you haven't formed yet, that's the first step.
$39 + state fee. Includes registered agent, business address, and more.
Get your EIN
An Employer Identification Number is free from the IRS and required on nearly every grant application. You can apply online and receive it immediately.
Open a business bank account
Grant funds need to go into a dedicated business account, not your personal checking. Most agencies will ask for your banking details on the application.
Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.
Grants by Business Type
Targeted programs for specific business owners in Massachusetts.
Women-owned Business Grants
Massachusetts runs no grant reserved for women owners. Biz-M-Power weighs it, and that round is shut. The Life Sciences Center funds women led early stage life science companies with non dilutive money and coaching. Everything else here is advice, not cash. Start at a free SBDC office.
- ›Biz-M-Power Grant Program
- ›Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
- ›Massachusetts SBDC
Minority-owned Business Grants
The technical assistance money pays nonprofits, not businesses. Those nonprofits then advise minority owned firms at no charge. That is the real route in. Application resources come in ten languages. No certification is required to use a funded provider.
- ›Small Business Technical Assistance Program
- ›MassDevelopment
- ›Massachusetts SBDC
Veteran-owned Business Grants
Massachusetts has no veteran only business grant. What exists is free help. Technical assistance nonprofits serving veteran founders are funded through the state. The SBDC advises at no cost. Federal certification opens contracting work rather than grant money.
- ›Small Business Technical Assistance Program
- ›Massachusetts SBDC
Technology/Innovation Business Grants
This is where the largest awards sit. The MassVentures START grant pays SBIR Phase II companies $100,000 to $500,000, and it is paused right now. The Life Sciences Center runs grants and tax incentives for research. Federal SBIR and STTR money never touches the state. Apply to the agency direct.
- ›MassVentures START Grant
- ›Massachusetts Life Sciences Center
- ›SBIR/STTR Programs
Rural Business Grants
Central and western towns get priority in several MassDevelopment programs. The Community One Stop for Growth is the main door. A city or town applies, not your business. Its round is closed. Ask your town hall when the next one opens.
- ›Community One Stop for Growth
- ›MassDevelopment
Tips for Applying in Massachusetts
Increase your chances of approval with these state-specific tips.
- 1Register on SAM.gov early if you want federal money like SBIR or STTR. Registration is required. It can take weeks.
- 2Start at a certified technical assistance provider. MassDevelopment lists them in its Small Business Resource Directory. Their advice is free. They know which round opens next.
- 3The Community One Stop for Growth takes an optional Expression of Interest each January. Send one. Staff give feedback before the spring deadline.
- 4Biz-M-Power wants proof that 20 percent of the owner's own funds are ready at the time you apply. Bank statements show it. Have them before the round opens.
- 5Call the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center. Help with proposals and planning is free and confidential. Six regional offices cover the state.
State Economic Development Agency
Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED)
EOED promotes vibrant communities, growing businesses, and a strong middle class by coordinating state economic development programs, grants, and tax incentives for Massachusetts businesses.
Funding While You Wait
Grant applications in Massachusetts can take weeks or months to process. These options can bridge the gap.
Grants in Other States
All state grant guidesFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, and none of them is open today. Biz-M-Power matched up to $20,000, and MassDevelopment says its deadline has passed. Empower Digital ended in 2023. The MassVentures START grant pays SBIR Phase II companies $100,000 to $500,000, and it sits paused. Grant money is never repaid. You just cannot apply for any of it this month.
Biz-M-Power, in the years it runs. MassDevelopment matches $2,500 to $20,000 for firms under 20 staff and under $2.5 million in revenue. You must show 20 percent of your own money first. It buys facility work, equipment and other capital needs. The round is shut. No reopening date is posted.
No. Most Massachusetts programs take any eligible small business. Ownership is not a gate. Some do weigh it. The technical assistance money favours nonprofit providers serving women, minority, veteran, immigrant and LGBTQ+ owners. Certification is never required. It can still strengthen a file.
Longer than most people expect. Biz-M-Power rounds ran several months from filing to award. The Community One Stop for Growth follows a yearly cycle, applications in late spring and awards in the autumn, and its 2026 round closed on June 3, 2026. START keeps its own dates. Nothing is open today, so your real wait starts at the next round. A free Massachusetts SBDC adviser can tell you when that lands.
About the Author
Senior Finance & Banking Editor
Richard is the veteran anchor of the site's financial content. Raised in the Midwest and starting his career in Chicago's commercial banking sector, he spent over a decade underwriting small business loans before moving into financial journalism. He doesn't get swept up in startup hype; he cares about unit economics, APYs, and fee structures.
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Grant programs change frequently. Deadlines, eligibility requirements, and funding amounts listed here may be outdated. Always verify information directly with the granting agency before applying. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.
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