Positioning them for success will accelerate New Bedford’s emergence from the pandemic,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said.

“Entrepreneurs drive opportunity and growth in our economy. The NBEDC’s two awarded programs will focus on small businesses and homegrown start-ups via new, streamlined processes that are designed to be easy to access, flexible, efficient, and measurable in outcome, with a goal of positioning New Bedford as one of the strongest and most diverse small business economies per capita in the post-pandemic Commonwealth. The New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC) will be tasked with administering the respective grant processes as an expansion of their long-standing small business support activities.

The funding will be distributed under two separate initiatives: NBForward!, which will provide funding to businesses negatively affected by the pandemic, and NB100!, which will focus on assisting early-stage entrepreneurs affected because of their industry or location. That same program is now allocating another portion of its funds, to assist local businesses and entrepreneurs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerate their financial recovery. On May 13, Mayor Mitchell and local arts leaders celebrated funding for local artists and arts groups, awarded through the small business program. New Bedford, Massachusetts – Mayor Jon Mitchell announced today that $3.3 million in funding is being made available to support local businesses and entrepreneurs.Įarlier this year, the City launched a Small Business Assistance Program to distribute portions of federal funding that New Bedford received under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

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