Massachusetts SBDC
The
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center provides one-to-one no direct cost comprehensive and confidential services
focusing on, business growth and strategies, financing and loan
assistance as well as strategic, marketing and operational analysis.
In addition, low cost educational training programs are offered
across the state targeted to the needs of small business. This is
achieved through three integrated product lines:
- Business Advisory Services
- Government Contracting
- International Trade Assistance
A full-time staff of business advisors, supported by the resources of their host academic institutions, provides free business assistance to small businesses. Services are delivered statewide through a network of six regional offices, as well as three statewide specialty resources—Massachusetts Export Center, Government Sales Advisory Program and the Massachusetts APEX Accelerator. Please note that business advisors are not available at the State Office.
State Office
Tillson House
University of Massachusetts
23 Tillson Farm Road
Amherst, MA 01003-9346
413-545-6301
www.msbdc.org
The State Office is headquarters for the
Massachusetts SBDC and provides
overall management for the program.
Regional Offices
Berkshire Region
33 Dunham Mall, Suite 103
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-499-0933
www.msbdc.org/berkshire
The Berkshire Region provides business owners with information that better enables them to meet the challenges that entrepreneurs face. The office provides assistance to businesses located in Berkshire County.
Central Region
Clark University
The Carriage House
125 Woodland Street
Worcester, MA 01610
508-793-7615
www.clarku.edu/sbdc
The Central Region advises businesses located in Central Massachusetts, including Worcester County. Typically, business advisors assist clients in developing business plans, marketing plans, financials, cash flows and other areas critical to ensure a successful venture. In addition to office hours in Worcester, staff also hold office hours at outreach sites throughout Central Massachusetts.
Greater Boston Region
Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst
Campus Center, Suite 204-205
100 Carlson Avenue
Newton, MA 02459
www.msbdc.org/boston
In 2022, the Massachusetts SBDC opened a new office at the Mount Ida Campus in Newton to provide assistance to businesses located in the Greater Boston area.
Northeast Region
(Spanish-speaking advisor)
Salem State University
Bertolon School of Business
71 Loring Avenue, Room CC156
Salem, MA 01970
978-542-6343
www.salemstate.edu/sbdc
The Northeast Region provides assistance to businesses located in the North Shore and Merrimack Valley. Since the office's inception in 1992, staff has worked with over 15,000 entrepreneurs. During that time, staff has assisted entrepreneurs to raise over $140 million in financing. In addition to office hours at its Salem headquarters, staff also meet clients at two outreach locations in the area.
Southeast Region
508-673-9783
www.msbdc.org/semass
The Southeast Region advises businesses located in Southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and the Islands. The service delivery area includes the counties of Plymouth, Norfolk, Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket.
Western Region
UMass Amherst Center at Springfield
Tower Square
1500 Main Street, Suite 260, Room 39
Springfield, MA 01115
413-577-1768
www.msbdc.org/wmass
The Western Region provides advice to businesses located the Western Massachusetts counties of Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin. Services are delivered by skilled professional staff with extensive business experience and excellent educational backgrounds. Work is augmented by college and university faculty, qualified students and private consultants.
Specialty Centers
Massachusetts Export Center
Mount Ida Campus
of UMass Amherst
Campus Center, Suite 207
100 Carlson Avenue
Newton, MA 02459-3326
617-973-6610
www.mass.gov/export
Since its inception in May 1994, the Massachusetts Export Center has assisted thousands of companies and individuals. Recognizing the need to make export services easily accessible to companies of all sizes, the Massachusetts Export Center was established to serve as the state's one-stop resource for export assistance. The Massachusetts Export Center offers a full range of targeted, customized services to Massachusetts businesses at any stage in the export process. Whether you are a small business just thinking about exporting or an experienced exporter, the Massachusetts Export Center stands ready to help with services suited to your needs! The Massachusetts Export Center is hosted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Government Sales Advisory
Program / Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Central Massachusetts: 508-870-3193
www.msbdc.org/gs
Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR): 774-203-9972
www.msbdc.org/sbir
Created in 2014, the Government Sales Advisory Program provides technical assistance in bid matching for federal, state and municipal procurement opportunities for Central and Southeastern Massachusetts. Much of the business services are performed at the client's firm location, making the technical support delivery available in a timely and cost-effective manner. E-commerce, including registering, bidding and performing online, in a paperless environment is a vital part of federal contracting.
The Government Sales Advisory Program also assists Massachusetts advanced technology and life sciences companies with making successful application(s) for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding. Through a competitive awards-based program, the SBIR program enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization.
Massachusetts APEX Accelerator
413-545-6303
www.massapex.org
The Massachusetts APEX Accelerator provides technical assistance in bid matching for federal, state and municipal procurement opportunities. Much of the business services are performed at the client's firm location, making the technical support delivery available in a timely and cost effective manner. E-commerce, including registering, bidding and performing on-line, in a paperless environment is a vital part of federal contracting. The Massachusetts APEX staff supports vendors in those efforts. Technical data, such as military specifications, standards, pricing histories and technical information by part number will be supplied. Resources are concentrated on assistance to small, minority- and women-owned firms statewide with an emphasis on high areas of unemployment including HubZones.
