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Resource Hub · Starting a business

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Business Advising / Startup Navigation
Free

Massachusetts Small Business Development Center - Western Region

Help with:
Idea development; business planning; financial projections; marketing; startup strategy; financing preparation; training
Best for:
Prospective entrepreneurs; startups; existing small businesses
How to start:
Book/request advising
1500 Main St, Springfield, MA 01105
413-577-1768
Get started
Mentoring / Business Education
Free

SCORE Western Massachusetts

Help with:
Free mentoring; business planning; startup guidance; marketing; cash flow; funding strategy; workshops
Best for:
Aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small-business owners
How to start:
Request a mentor / register for workshops
413-785-0314
Get started
Business Coaching / Technical Assistance
Free / program dependent

Legacy Economic Development Corporation

Help with:
Startup strategy; business plans; registration/structure guidance; marketing; branding; bookkeeping readiness; budgeting; funding readiness; certification guidance
Best for:
Aspiring entrepreneurs, microbusinesses, startups and established businesses; strong underserved-business focus
How to start:
Contact Legacy / request support
20 Fort St, Springfield, MA 01103
413-210-2945info@legacyedc.org
Get started
Business Coaching / Capital Readiness
Free business assistance

Common Capital - Business Resource Center

Help with:
Business plans; financial projections; marketing plans; bookkeeping/financial assistance; loan readiness; training; business navigation
Best for:
Entrepreneurs and small businesses, with focus on LMI and underserved entrepreneurs
How to start:
Contact Business Resource Center
270 Bridge St, Springfield, MA 01103
413-233-1680info@commoncapitalma.org
Get started
Coworking / Financial Education / Ecosystem Connection
Free / program dependent

Reevx Labs - Springfield

Help with:
Business incubator; office space; startup support; professional environment; entrepreneurial resource connections
Best for:
Startups and small businesses needing workspace/incubator support
How to start:
Contact center / STCC
1 Federal St, Building 101, Springfield, MA 01105
413-755-6100
Get started
Certification / Procurement Readiness
Free

City of Springfield Small Business / Minority / Women Business Enterprise Certification Program

Help with:
Incubator/hosting; mentorship; workspace/community; entrepreneurship ecosystem support
Best for:
Socially responsible/sustainable startups and community entrepreneurs; confirm current intake criteria
How to start:
Contact organization
250 Albany St, Springfield, MA 01105
Get started
Downtown Business Support
Free / program dependent

Springfield Business Improvement District

Help with:
Coworking/collaboration space; entrepreneur programming; financial wellness; workshops; resource connections; showcases/pop-ups
Best for:
Entrepreneurs, artists and small nonprofits
How to start:
Check programming / contact location
270 Bridge St, Springfield, MA 01103
413-781-1591
Get started
Ecosystem Navigator / Referral Directory
Free resource navigation

WesternMass Economic Development Council - Entrepreneur Resources

Help with:
Business assistance; city processes; incentives; site/location help; financial programs; storefront assistance; referrals
Best for:
Businesses starting, locating or expanding in Springfield
How to start:
Contact economic development
70 Tapley St, Springfield, MA 01104
413-787-6020
Get started
Creative Entrepreneurship / Makerspace
Free / low-cost / program dependent

Make-It Springfield

Help with:
Local certification assistance; procurement positioning; business resources/training connections
Best for:
Eligible Springfield-area small, minority and women-owned businesses; verify program criteria
How to start:
Review certification requirements
413-455-0663
Get started
Growth / Finance / Development Navigation
Free navigation; financing has terms/costs

MassDevelopment - Western Massachusetts Office

Help with:
Downtown business connections; storefront/business-location support; technical assistance programs; downtown promotion
Best for:
Businesses operating or considering locating in Downtown Springfield
How to start:
Contact SBID
1331 Main St, Springfield, MA 01103
413-731-8848
Get started
Legal Clinic / University
Free / eligibility-based

Western New England University Small Business Legal Clinic

Help with:
Business formation; choice of entity; contracts; employment policies; regulatory compliance; trademarks; copyright; IP
Best for:
Startups/small businesses unable to afford market-rate legal services; project must fit clinic criteria
Stage:
Idea; Pre-Launch; Startup
Languages:
English
Format:
In Person / Consultation
How to start:
Use resource directory / contact EDC
413-782-1469
Get started
Municipal Certification / Technical Assistance
Free

City of Springfield DTAC Small Business Certification Program

Help with:
MBE/WBE/VBE/SBE certification; free application support; hands-on training; Zoom assistance; opportunity positioning
Best for:
Springfield businesses meeting certification requirements
Stage:
Startup; Established; Growth
Languages:
English; verify language support
Format:
In Person / Virtual
413-787-6142dtaccert@springfieldcityhall.com
Get started
State Certification / Supplier Development
Free

Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office (SDO)

Help with:
Diverse-business certification; training; vendor development; procurement education; state contracting navigation
Best for:
Eligible diverse and small businesses; Springfield MBE/WBE/VBE applicants use Springfield certification route as applicable
Stage:
Startup; Established; Growth
Languages:
English; accessibility/language support varies
Format:
Virtual / Statewide
Get started
Government Contracting Technical Assistance
Free / confidential advising

MSBDC Government Sales Advisory Program

Help with:
Federal/state/local procurement advising; bid readiness; government sales strategy
Best for:
Massachusetts businesses pursuing government contracts
Stage:
Startup; Established; Growth
Languages:
English
Format:
Virtual / Statewide
Get started
Nonprofit Legal / Technical Assistance
Free

Lawyers for Civil Rights - BizGrow

Help with:
Free business legal assistance; legal clinics; office hours; workshops; technical assistance
Best for:
Small businesses and entrepreneurs; intake/program eligibility applies
Stage:
Idea; Pre-Launch; Startup; Growth
Languages:
English; verify additional languages
Format:
Virtual / Clinics / Events
BizGrow@lawyersforcivilrights.org
Get started
Women's Business Center / Entrepreneurship Training
Free / low-cost / program dependent

Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE)

Help with:
Business education; training; technical assistance; mentoring; WBE certification support
Best for:
Primarily women entrepreneurs; program-specific eligibility
Stage:
Idea; Pre-Launch; Startup; Growth
Languages:
English; verify program languages
Format:
Virtual / Regional
Get started
Inclusive Entrepreneurship Accelerator
Free

Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll / EparaTodos)

Help with:
Accelerator; mentorship; business education; pitch development; inclusive entrepreneurship support
Best for:
Entrepreneurs, particularly underrepresented founders; cohort/location availability varies
Stage:
Idea; Pre-Launch; Startup
Languages:
English; Spanish through EparaTodos where offered
Format:
Hybrid / Program dependent
1-833-336-7255
Get started
Business Growth / Capacity Building Nonprofit
Free / sponsored programs

Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC)

Help with:
Business education; one-on-one coaching; capital readiness; connections to capital providers
Best for:
Urban businesses and program-eligible entrepreneurs
Stage:
Startup; Established; Growth
Languages:
English
Format:
Virtual / Cohort
617-238-1740
Get started
State Business Navigation / Economic Development
Free

Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD)

Help with:
State resource navigation; expansion assistance; incentives; business development connections
Best for:
Businesses operating, locating or expanding in Massachusetts
Stage:
Startup; Established; Growth
Languages:
English; state accessibility/language services available
Format:
Statewide / Regional
Get started
Municipal Business Assistance
Free

City of Springfield Office of Planning & Economic Development

Help with:
Site search; local business navigation; incentives; storefront programs; financial-program referrals; economic development support
Best for:
Springfield businesses and entrepreneurs; program-specific eligibility
Stage:
Startup; Established; Growth
Languages:
English; verify language support
Format:
In Person / Municipal
413-787-6020
Get started
Entrepreneur Network / Business Development
Free / program dependent

Living Local 413

Help with:
Entrepreneur visibility; networking; entrepreneur spotlights; local business ecosystem connections; accelerator/support programming
Best for:
Local entrepreneurs and businesses
Stage:
Startup; Growth
Languages:
English
Format:
In Person / Regional
413-657-5392
Get started
Startup Mentoring / Accelerator / Networking
Program dependent

Valley Venture Mentors

Help with:
Entity formation; contracts; taxes; leases; intellectual property; legal clinics; startup checklist; business advising; specialized accelerators
Best for:
Aspiring and existing entrepreneurs; focus on low-income entrepreneurs, people of color, immigrants and women
How to start:
Complete intake / clinic registration
413-337-2887BizGrow@lawyersforcivilrights.org
Get started
High-Growth Startup Mentoring
Program dependent

Western Mass Founders Network

Help with:
Entrepreneur education; curated mentorship; pitch feedback; founder networks; growth planning; networking
Best for:
Entrepreneurs and startups; some programs target high-growth/scalable companies
How to start:
Review programs / connect with VVM
276 Bridge St, Springfield, MA 01103
413-337-2887foundersnetwork@westernmassedc.com
Get started
Incubator / Workspace / Startup Support
Paid / program dependent

Andrew M. Scibelli Enterprise Center

Help with:
Peer mentorship; expert mentors; founder network; scaling support; supplier/vendor connections
Best for:
High-growth potential Western Massachusetts startups
How to start:
Contact network
413-755-6100foundersnetwork@westernmassedc.com
Get started
Disability-Focused Entrepreneurship / Business Consulting
Verify / program dependent

New England Business Associates (NEBA) Business Consulting Center

Help with:
Business concept development; SCORE-approved business plan; entrepreneurship training; implementation; individualized consulting; sales assistance
Best for:
Entrepreneurs with disabilities; verify current program intake
Stage:
Idea; Pre-Launch; Startup
Languages:
English; verify accommodations/languages
Format:
In Person / Regional
How to start:
Join/attend programs
276 Bridge St, Springfield, MA 01103
413-657-5392
Get started
Community Resource Hub / Culinary Entrepreneurship
Program dependent

JC Williams Community Center

Help with:
Culinary entrepreneurship; shared-use commercial kitchen; food-service certification; financial literacy; workforce training
Best for:
Community members and culinary entrepreneurs; verify program-specific eligibility
Stage:
Idea; Pre-Launch; Startup
Languages:
English; verify additional languages
Format:
In Person
How to start:
Check workshops/open studio
286 Bridge St, Springfield, MA 01103
413-455-0663
Get started
Commercial Kitchen / Food Business Incubator
Paid

Serve Food LLC / The People's Kitchen

Help with:
Commercial kitchen; commissary; food truck support; bakery/catering production; cloud kitchen; incubation; dry storage; business consulting; teaching
Best for:
Food trucks, bakers, caterers, chefs, CPG, meal prep and other eligible food businesses; ServSafe and insurance required
Stage:
Idea; Pre-Launch; Startup; Growth
Languages:
English; verify additional languages
Format:
In Person
How to start:
Contact Western MA office
1350 Main St, Springfield, MA 01103
413-731-8848
Get started
Shared Commercial Kitchen / Food Entrepreneurship
Paid / sliding scale

Gran Cocina Holyoke

Help with:
Shared commercial kitchen; food business launch/growth support; affordable production space
Best for:
Food entrepreneurs and community users; membership required
Stage:
Idea; Pre-Launch; Startup; Growth
Languages:
English; Spanish likely but verify
Format:
In Person
413-224-8062grancocinaholyoke@gmail.com
Get started
Food Business Incubator / Processing Center
Paid / program dependent

Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center / Franklin County CDC

Help with:
Product development; prototyping; co-manufacturing; commercial kitchen; scale-up; packaging; warehousing; business planning; financing resources
Best for:
Food and farm businesses, startups and entrepreneurs
Stage:
Idea; Startup; Growth
Languages:
English
Format:
In Person / Regional
413-774-7204
Get started
Minority Business Development / Certification Network
Fee/program dependent

Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council (GNEMSDC)

Help with:
MBE certification; consulting; training; corporate supplier connections; leadership development
Best for:
Qualifying minority-owned businesses
Stage:
Startup; Established; Growth
Languages:
English
Format:
Hybrid / Regional
617-578-8900
Get started
Inclusive Capital & Business Support Nonprofit
Program dependent

Seeding Ventures

Help with:
Financial education; specialized training; expert guidance; resource/capital navigation; Micro-SEED financing
Best for:
Minority-, women-, and LGBTQ-owned businesses
Stage:
Startup; Growth
Languages:
English; verify additional languages
Format:
Springfield / Regional
Get started
Business Incubator / Workspace
Paid / membership or tenancy dependent

Gasoline Alley Foundation

Help with:
Incubator/business hosting; workspace; business-plan support; financing-resource navigation; marketing support
Best for:
Startup and small businesses fitting incubator/space model
Stage:
Pre-Launch; Startup; Growth
Languages:
English
Format:
In Person
Get started
Business Incubator / Workspace
Paid / program dependent

Scibelli Enterprise Center / Springfield Technology Park

Help with:
Business-incubator environment; office/workspace; entrepreneurial support; meetings; business resource network
Best for:
Startups and small businesses seeking incubator/workspace support
Stage:
Pre-Launch; Startup; Growth
Languages:
English
Format:
In Person
Get started
Chamber / Business Network
Membership + some public/free events

Springfield Regional Chamber

Help with:
Networking; workshops; referrals; business education; regional connections; partner programs
Best for:
Businesses and entrepreneurs; membership varies by service
Stage:
Startup; Established; Growth
Languages:
English
Format:
In Person / Regional
Get started
Chamber / Latino Business Support
Membership/program dependent

Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce

Help with:
Business advocacy; education; networking; economic development; connections and business support
Best for:
Latino businesses and broader business community
Stage:
Startup; Established; Growth
Languages:
English; Spanish
Format:
Regional / Statewide
Get started

Details last checked 2026-10-04. Confirm hours and programs with each provider.

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