Today, National Grid announced the launch of a three-year, $500,000 Small Business Impact Initiative in partnership with Amplify LatinX, The Asian Business Empowerment Council, the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce.

Through this new initiative, National Grid will partner with these leading organizations to provide a total of 50 $10,000 capacity building grants over the next three years to help minority-owned small businesses across the Commonwealth grow, thrive, and contribute to the economic opportunity and vibrancy of our communities. In its first year, the initiative aims to support 16 small businesses selected by the partner organizations.

This partnership furthers National Grid’s commitment under our newly launched “Grid for Good” program to enable economic opportunity, especially for historically underrepresented communities. The company recognizes the immense value minority-owned businesses bring to our local communities as well as the challenges these businesses often face in accessing capital needed to expand, create jobs, and generate growth. Through this partnership, grantees will not only receive funding but also resources and support from the partnering business organizations to realize their goals. 

To apply, interested businesses must be affiliated with at least one of the partner organizations. The grants must be used to support the growth of operational capacity – such as purchasing equipment, leasing office space, or improving efficiencies among others. Each partner organization will select four grantees to receive funding.

This impact initiative is part of National Grid’s newly launched “Grid for Good” program, a larger companywide corporate responsibility and impact initiative that supports the communities we serve. Through Grid for Good, National Grid will contribute at least $4 million in funding to organizations that align with its three responsibility and impact pillars -- (1) workforce development and STEM education, (2) economic opportunity and social justice, and (3) environmental stewardship and sustainability -- and have a focus on historically underrepresented and overburdened communities.

The application deadline is October 31^st. The 16 grantees will be celebrated at an event on November 14^th. For more information about the grant application and eligibility criteria, please click here.