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April 2025 Economic Development Updates

April 16th, 2025 by Yari DeJesus
Social Enterprise Capital Grant – Now Accepting Applications!
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development has opened the Fiscal Year 2026 Social Enterprise Capital grant application! This grant provides funding of up to $250,000 for nonprofit employment social enterprises that create jobs and offer supportive services while selling goods and services. Funds can be used for real estate purchases, renovations, repairs, or rehabilitation.
Deadline: May 5, 2025, at 11:59 PM
Informational Webinar: April 9, 2025, at 11 AM – Register here
More Info & Apply: Social Enterprise Capital Grant Program
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Free Small Business Webinars – Register Now!
The Massachusetts State Treasury’s Small Business Initiative (SBI) team, in partnership with Bay State Savings Bank, is hosting free small business webinars this spring as part of the Small Business Empowerment Series!
Upcoming Sessions:
  • April 23, 9:00–10:15 AM: Mastering Financial Management
  • April 30, 9:00–10:15 AM: Banking Services & Securing Financing
Webinars will be in English with live interpretation in Spanish and Portuguese. Participants can also enter to win a “Coffee for a Week” prize ($35 value) courtesy of Bay State Bank!
Register & Learn More: https://bit.ly/3Rvy1bE
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MACDC at the 2025 NCRC Conference
The MACDC team had a great time at the 2025 NCRC Just Economy Conference in D.C. in March, connecting with community development leaders and exploring strategies for economic equity. Jesse Van Tol, NCRC’s President & CEO, delivered a powerful speech emphasizing the need for bold policy changes in this current political climate, increased financial accountability, and stronger investments in underserved communities. Sessions covered racial equity in banking, small business financing, and innovative community reinvestment strategies, reinforcing our mission to expand economic opportunities in Massachusetts.
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MACDC & SBA Small Business Event in Springfield – April 3, 2025 
On April 3rd, MACDC and the Massachusetts SBA hosted a Small Business Roundtable Event in Springfield MA, bringing together key partners to support entrepreneurs in Western Massachusetts.
  • MA SBA Team: Provided updates on lending programs, technical assistance, and small business support in the current political and economic climate.
  • Sarah Sargent, Valley CDC: Highlighted their CDC small business programs, success stories, and partnerships that bolster local entrepreneurship.
  • Raymond Lanza Weil, Common Capital: shared insights on CDFI initiatives, funding opportunities, and impactful collaborations that help underserved entrepreneurs succeed.
The event emphasized the power of collaboration among SBA, CDCs, and CDFIs to strengthen small business ecosystems. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to this important discussion!
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April 2025 Health Equity Updates

April 16th, 2025 by Elana Brochin

Health Equity Updates, by Elana Brochin

Health Equity Committee

At our most recent Health Equity Committee meeting we continued our conversation about the intersection of Health Equity and Environmental Justice with partners from the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Round Table. The Health Equity Committee will be meeting next on Monday June 16th at 2pm. Please contact Elana (elanab@macdc.org) if you’d like to join us.

 

Massachusetts Healthy Homes Program Briefing

We partnered with the Massachusetts Environmental Justice Roundtable to hold a legislative briefing focused on two indoor air quality bills and funding for the Massachusetts Healthy Homes Program (MHHP). MACDC’s Director of Health Equity, Elana Brochin, and Revitalize CDC’s Assistant Manager of HRSN Healthy Homes, Aneida Molina Flores, were among the speakers at this well-attended briefing. Please see attached press release. Please contact Elana (elanab@macdc.org) if you'd like to join our next MHHP Coalition meeting.

 

Housing Quality and Health Equity Initiative Expanding Focus to Lynn, New Bedford, and Worcester

For the first two years of our Housing Quality and Health Equity Initiative we focused our community engagement efforts on an initial cohort of Gateway Cities: Brockton, Springfield, and Holyoke. For the next two years we will be working in a second cohort of Gateway Cities, including Lynn, New Bedford and Worcester. We are excited to be collaborating with CDCs, community members, and municipal officials in each of these cities. 

 

Lead Paint Webinar

The Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations (MACDC) is hosting a webinar for property owners on how to identify and address lead paint in their homes and in rental units they own. This webinar will be provided in an online format and will feature speakers from the MA Department of Public Health, local rehabilitation agencies, lenders, and others. The webinar is free, but registration is required.

 

Please note the webinar is strictly educational in nature, not regulatory. MACDC will not share the names or email addresses of registrants with anyone.

 

Date and time of the webinar: May 1st 6-8 pm EST

Registration link: Healthy Homes Webinar

 

For outreach materials (in Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole) or general questions about the webinar, you can reach out to Grace Dowling from MACDC, at graced@macdc.org

Press Release 03.27.25.pdf

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Highlights from Lobby Day 2025

April 16th, 2025 by Molly Marshall

We were thrilled to have over 250 people join us for MACDC's Annual Lobby Day at the State House on April 10th. Learn more about our 2025 legislative priorities here.

Below are some of our highlights from the day. Photo credit: Leise Jones.

Representative Manny Cruz, presented with his Community Development Champion Award by Felicia Pierce, CEO of North Shore CDC.

  

 

 

 

Senator John Keenan, presented with his Community Development Champion Award by Rob Corley, CEO of NeighborWorks Housing Solutions, with Emilio Dorcely, CEO of Urban Edge.

 

 

Sandy Maynard of The Neighborhood Developers presenting the Community Development Champion Award in honor of Senator Sal DiDomenico to his staff.

 

 

Representative Jay D. Livingstone was presented with a Community Development Champion Award by Suneeth John of Fenway CDC, pictured here with Emilio Dorcely, CEO of Urban Edge.

 

 

MACDC Director of Policy Nathanael Shea presenting Legislative Staff Champion Awards to Emerson Gagnon and Madison Colburn.

 

 

Representative Sam Montaño spoke on the impact of CDCs and investing in housing and climate.

"The impact of community development organizations is felt across the commonwealth and was especially present in the State House for MACDC advocacy day. It was an honor to have come from the CDC world to then being an advocate for them on beacon hill as a Rep. I’m so proud of the work MACDC is doing to advance and strengthen our communities." --Rep. Montaño.

 

 

Representative Andy Vargas spoke on the importance of supporting small businesses and the impact of SBTA.

 

 

MACDC Board Members

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