The state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is investing $21.5 million statewide through the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program to create 11 new Business Assistance Service Centers.
The centers will provide technical assistance and business support services to increase the overall number of historically disadvantaged small businesses and to give those businesses access to capital.
“Economic development is a team sport, and programs like the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program help ensure that our small businesses have the right tools and the right partner to help them succeed,” DCED Secretary Rick Siger said. “Through these new Business Assistance Service Centers, we will provide resources directly to the small businesses in Pennsylvania that need it the most, managed in collaboration with the organizations and people that best know the needs of their local communities.”
Each center will provide business accounting assistance, one-on-one business counseling, contract procurement support, employer responsibility training, and translation services. Centers will help identify opportunities to leverage already local resources and will partner with local economic development organizations, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations to provide support.
Awardees include:
The Pennsylvania CDFI Network was awarded $5.8 million for a center that will support 28 counties.
Greenline Access Capital was awarded $2.2 million to support five counties.