New Bedford residents offered seed funding money and FREE 8-month business accelerator program

Applications for WEB New Bedford will open on Friday, March 16, 2018. WEB New Bedford is a free eight month business accelerator program for City of New Bedford residents. The program is a multi-partner pilot effort to provide comprehensive services for residents who want help starting or growing their business in New Bedford.

Twelve residents, with a focus on recruiting women and minorities, will be accepted into WEB New Bedford. After completing the program requirements, each WEB New Bedford participant will be eligible to receive up to $1,000 in Seed Funding for their business.

The WEB New Bedford program features free technical assistance from multiple partners, workshops from the Community Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) and the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC). The program will hold weekly seminars featuring successful women entrepreneurs in the community and provide two free Bristol Community College courses from the Small Business and Entrepreneurship certificate program.

The program runs from May 2, 2018 through December 11, 2018. Any interested City residents are encouraged to attend the information sessions on March 20 from 3 to 4 p.m. or March 22 from noon to 1 p.m. The information sessions will be held at the Greater New Bedford Career Center, 618 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford. Applications will be due on April 13, 2018.

Applications are available online at gnbwib.org/webnewbedford or can be picked up at partner locations including South Coast Chamber of Commerce, CEDC, New Bedford Economic Development Council, Immigrant’s Assistance Center, Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board and the Greater New Bedford Career Center.

WEB New Bedford is funded through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing Economic Development Urban Agenda program.

For more information please contact Dr. K. Holloway Cripps kcripps@gnbwib.org or 508.979.1504 x111 or Brianna Alves balves@southcoastchamber.com 508.999.5231.