Social Enterprise Capital Grant Program in the US
Deadline: 20-Apr-22
The Baker-Polito Administration is pleased to announce the availability of funds through the Social Enterprise Capital Grant Program, which was created to invest in employment social enterprises that contribute to economic growth in low-income communities throughout the Commonwealth.
The program seeks to make capital grants to non-profit organizations to develop eligible facilities for social enterprises that target individuals facing significant barriers to employment.
The Social Enterprise Capital Grant Program is administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) to support various costs related to the development of eligible facilities, such as acquisition and/or renovation for a property owned by the nonprofit and utilized for the social enterprise, as well as equipment purchase costs.
The program will make capital grants, on a competitive basis, to projects that meet the eligibility and specific requirements of the program. Specifically, this grant is designed to support employment social enterprises that sell goods and services while providing supportive services for individuals who face significant barriers to employment.
Program Details
For this program, an employment social enterprise is defined as a discrete or embedded business venture operated by a mission-driven nonprofit organization with programming focused on hiring and assisting people who face barriers to employment.
The organization must offer paid employment opportunities to low-income individuals, with priority to socially and economically disadvantaged populations who experience complex needs and barriers to employment that require intensive interventions.
Funding Information
Total Grant Funds Available $2,000,000
Grant Request Amount Up to $1,000,000
Number of Awards Multiple (Estimate: 2 – 8 grant awards)
Performance Period Grants will be awarded to support a project to be completed between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for funding, the applicant organization must meet the following requirements:
be a Massachusetts non-profit corporation in good standing, and
successfully operating an employment social enterprise for at least 12 continuous months before the time of application, and
offering paid employment opportunities to low-income individuals, with priority to socially and economically disadvantaged populations who experience complex needs and barriers to employment that require intensive interventions, and
paying participants in the social enterprise no less than the Massachusetts minimum the hourly wage for their employment, and
be the current or imminent owner of the real estate, if requesting funds to repair, rehabilitate, and/or renovate a social enterprise facility.
The applicant will also be required to affirm and demonstrate that it currently provides the following services to social enterprise participants, and plans to provide them to future participants:
Outreach to targeted populations.
On-the-job training and skill development, including worksite supervision and performance coaching.
Comprehensive supportive services for at least 1 year (including, but not limited to, case management, aimed at helping to overcome barriers to employment).
Assistance to obtain external employment.
Job retention services, including follow-up with beneficiaries for at least 1 year and employers to support job retention and advancement.
For more information, visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/social-enterprise-capital-grant-program