We were very pleased to join Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Assistant Secretary of MA Business Development and International Trade Nam Pham, MGCC President Larry Andrews and the Mayor of Fitchburg for the announcement of Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation FY 2019 Grantees. The Haitian American Business Expo, Inc. / U.S. Haitian Chamber of Commerce, Inc. received $10,000 in support of its Technical Assistance Program.
“This grant will enable our organization to provide technical assistance and financial training to local Haitian businesses in Massachusetts”, said Hans Patrick Domercant, President and CEO of the Haitian American Business Expo, Inc. / U.S. Haitian Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
“These local grantees have a real impact on job creation and economic development across the Commonwealth,” said Larry Andrews, President of MGCC. “We now have an independent, third-party evaluation of the program that confirms the positive impacts as a result of the program in underserved communities. This year’s grants will provide funding for non-profits to inclusively support and strengthen small businesses through managerial assistance, education and access to capital.”
Over 40 small business owners, non-profit organizations, and business development leaders met with Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and local elected officials in downtown Fitchburg to announce the grants. The celebratory event took place at Strong Style Coffee, a small business that recently benefitted from the grant program.
Marc Dohan, Executive Director of NewVue Communities remarked on the program’s value, “Mass Growth Capital’s grants provide technical assistance to many of the small business owners that turn their dreams into reality, creating jobs throughout the Commonwealth. Those businesses and jobs drive local growth and create great communities to live in and raise a family.”
The grants range from $10,000 – $120,000 and will enable local organizations to provide individualized business management assistance, financial training, microloans and loan packaging services to small businesses, with a focus on low- to moderate-income, underserved
communities and Gateway Cities in Massachusetts.
Nam Pham, Assistant Secretary of Business Development & International Trade noted the need to spur economic activity among underserved populations, “Small businesses are always the catalyst of our economy; the TA grants from the Commonwealth will strengthen not only our underserved diverse small neighborhood businesses, but will also help build a more vibrant and inclusive community.”
About the Haitian American Business Expo / U.S. Haitian Chamber of Commerce:
Founded in 2016, the Haitian American Business Expo, Inc. (HABEXPO) also known as the U.S. Haitian Chamber of Commerce is recognized as the preeminent Haitian business organization in Massachusetts for advocacy, networking and economic growth. More information is available at www.ushaitianchamber.org or www.habexpo.org
The Haitian American Business Expo, Inc. / U.S. Haitian Chamber of Commerce, Inc. is a 501(c)(6) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code. IRC Section 501(c)(6) is reserved for business leagues, chambers of commerce, boards of trade, or other similar organizations.
About Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC):
MGCC is a quasi-public corporation of the Commonwealth that saves and creates jobs at small businesses, including women, immigrant, veteran and minority owned businesses, by providing financial services and managerial assistance. MGCC also promotes economic development throughout the state, focusing on Gateway Cities and low to moderate income communities. MGCC works with traditional financial institutions to make challenging loans bankable, working with community development corporations and other non-profits to provide financing for job- producing projects, and assisting a wide range of small businesses find the growth capital they require. Since inception, it has served over 8,850 small businesses, positively impacted more than 21,200 jobs with customized working capital financing commitments totaling over $120,000,000.
For more information, visit the MGCC website at www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org, follow us
on Twitter @MassGCC and LinkedIn, and subscribe to our email list.
