The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) recently opened the application period for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program.
The program will fund the establishment of business assistance service centers statewide that support small, diverse businesses. The centers will provide business support services and technical assistance to increase the number of small-businesses and their access to capital.
At least one eligible organization in each region will receive funding. Eligible organizations are community-based nonprofit organizations, nonprofit economic development organizations with established experience and expertise in business and economic development, and educational institutions.
“The commonwealth must support our small, minority-owned businesses because when they succeed, our communities thrive and Pennsylvania’s economy grows,” DCED Secretary Rick Siger said.
The deadline is Jan. 22
Additional funding will be available in the spring for the creation of local micro grant programs that assist historically disadvantaged businesses with start-up or other costs, or to grow and expand.
The 2024-25 bipartisan budget included $20 million for the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program. It also included $15 million for tourism marketing, $20 million for the Main Street Matters program to support small businesses and commercial corridors, and $400 million for the Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites program.