Community Resources

Small Business Assistance

Small business organizations offer free advising services to Connecticut businesses. They may assist in business development, contracting, financial management, and more:

• CT APEX Accelerator (formerly CT PTAC) provides marketing and procurement assistance to businesses interested in selling their goods or services to federal, state, or local governments.
• Connecticut Small Business Development Center (SBDC) helps businesses launch and grow through free training courses and 1-on-1 advising. They are committed to providing economic equity to underserved businesses in order to help them access the resources and funding they need to maintain a successful business.
• HEDCO, Inc. is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides financial products and services, along with training and technical assistance. Products include term loans, lines of credit, and grants for small businesses to build capacity, empowering them to grow, achieve sustainability, and drive community revitalization.
• Minority Construction Counsel (MCC) advocates, supports, and creates development opportunities for minority contractors. Their key focus is to increase the capacity of MBE contractors and build relationships between MBE Members, Corporate Members, and partners in the public and private construction industries.
• Women's Business Development Council (WBDC) supports economic prosperity for women and strengthens communities through entrepreneurial and financial education services that create and grow sustainable jobs and businesses.

Supplier Diversity Programs

Many states, municipalities, and organizations offer supplier diversity programs with varying eligibility requirements and application processes. We have provided links to a few of the programs that may interest you below. Please note, these are provided for informational purposes only and are not required to participate in the State of Connecticut supplier diversity program.

• City of Bridgeport Small & Minority Business Enterprise
• City of Hartford Supplier Diversity Program 
• City of New Haven Small Contractor Development Program (SCD)
• Department of Transportation (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
• Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council - MBE Certification
• State of Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office
• State of New York Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program
• UCONN Capital Projects and Contract Administration Projects