The City offers both financial and technical assistance to Cambridge-based businesses through the following grant programs:
- The Retail Interior Accessibility Program provides financial assistance to business owners seeking to
renovate or improve the interior of their commercial buildings to make their business more accessible to those who are sensory and/or physically disabled.
- The Small Business Coaching Program provides established business owners with one-on-one coaching
services with experts in the fields of interior design, restaurant management, marketing, and legal services.
The City's Step by Step Permitting and Resource Guides provides an overview of the process and regulatory requirements at the city level for starting a business in Cambridge. The guides are available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Mandarin, and Spanish.
The Small Business Data Dashboard helps local businesses and entrepreneurs access data related to Cambridge's business climate, including customer base demographics, development indicators, industry trends, and more.
Cambridge residents interested in starting a business can also attend a free business workshop or apply to the 10-week Business Planning Program to get assistance in developing their business plan.
Staff in the Community Development Department’s Economic Development Division are available to meet on-on-one with anyone interested in opening or growing a business in Cambridge. Call 617/349-4637 to speak to an economic development specialist or schedule an appointment.
The Community Development Department partners with community organizations to offer a variety of business workshops year-round, free to Cambridge residents and business owners. Workshops range in topic from marketing, to website and social media development, to accounting and much more. View a list of upcoming workshops.
Small business workshops and the 10-Week Business Planning Course are open to Cambridge business owners and residents who are intent on opening a business in Cambridge. To participate in small business programs or receive small business grants from the City, you must be a current Cambridge business owner. Check program webpages for additional eligibility requirements.