Minority- and Women-Owned Business Support Grants

Electrical HVAC installer standing by his company van

The Challenge: Overcome Barriers Facing MWBEs Entering and Growing in the Clean Energy Sector

New and expanding Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBEs) are crucial to meeting the Commonwealth’s climate goals. These businesses put climate solutions into practice, foster environments that attract and support a diversified workforce, and pave the way to an equitable energy transition for environmental justice communities. Unfortunately, most MWBEs face barriers to entry and growth. Regardless of sector, MWBEs are denied access to capital at a much higher rate, face selection bias for projects, and often start with less personal wealth and social capital—all of which exacerbate the challenges that all businesses face during their start-up and early growth phases.

About MWBE Support Grants

MWBE Support Grants provide up to $1,000,000 across three years in grant funds and technical support to organizations that address the barriers faced by MWBEs in the clean energy sector and provide MWBEs with the skills and resources to thrive. Grantees develop or expand programs that provide support to existing MWBEs entering the clean energy sector and/or assist in the creation of new MWBEs in the sector. This funding is not intended to benefit a single MWBE. Successful applicants will propose projects that address barriers faced by MWBEs, tackle both supply and demand needs, provide comprehensive wraparound services for individuals participating in their programs, leverage existing support systems, and propose robust partnerships.

Status

Open

Award Potential

$1,000,000

Application Deadline

March 10, 2023

Apply

Questions? Contact

Funding Schedule

MWBE Support Grants are released on an annual basis. Applicants not currently ready for implementation should consider applying for a Capacity and Planning Grant to prepare for the next round of MWBE Support funding.

Process Step	Timing
RFP Release	December 28, 2022
Questions Due to MassCEC via workforce@masscec.com	Rolling, through February 20, 2023
Questions with Answers Posted to MassCEC Website	Updated monthly on 2nd Tuesday through February 21, 2023
Pre-Application Webinar	Jan 12, 2023, at 1 pm See more and register
Pre-Application Office Hours	Jan 31, 2023, at 12 noon Feb 9, 2023 at 5:30 pm Feb 13, 2023 at 12 noon Feb 17, 2023 at 12 noon Feb 23, 2023 at 5:30 pm Feb 27, 2023 at 12 noon Feb 28, 2023 at 12 noon Join below
Proposals Due	March 10, 2023, by 11:59 pm
Interviews of Applicants (as needed)	TBD
Notification of Award	May 2023

Who's Eligible

Single organizations or partnerships are eligible to apply. If multiple parties apply jointly, one party should take on the role of Lead Applicant. The following entities are eligible to serve as a Lead Applicant:

Non-profit organizations including Chamber of Commerce organizations, trade associations, clean energy incubators/accelerators, environmental justice organizations, and organizations representing tribes
Academic institutions with a business support program
For-profit entities such as clean energy installers, energy efficiency, or home performance contractors, technical or workforce training organizations, financial institutions or other clean energy practitioners

Additional eligibility requirements:

Lead Applicant must have a Massachusetts office or staffing.
Applicants are not required to have experience in clean energy or climate-critical business fields.
This funding is not intended to benefit a single MWBE, but instead is intended to support an organization that can help several different MWBEs grow and excel in climate-critical business sectors.

Apply

Application Process

Review the Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise Support Grant Request For Proposals (RFP).
Review all RFP forms and attachments.
Attend MassCEC informational webinar and/or use other informational resources offered.
Contact MassCEC with questions or to discuss your ideas at workforce@masscec.com.
Complete all RFP forms and attachments according to instructions.
Submit all completed RFP forms and attachments by email to workforce@masscec.com by 11:59 pm on March 10, 2023, with "MWBE Support Grant Application" in the subject line.

For full Program details, please refer to the RFP.

Application Materials

MWBE Support Grants - Request for Proposals (RFP)

Attachment 1 - Authorized Applicant's Signature & Acceptance Form

Attachment 2 - Application Form

Attachment 3 - Budget and Proposed Payment Schedule

Attachment 4 - Sample Grant Agreement

Send completed application to:

workforce@masscec.com

Pre-Application Office Hours

Join our drop-in office hours to discuss your proposals and network with other applicants.

January 31, 2023, 12 noon - Join Here
February 9, 2023, 5:30 pm - Join Here
February 13, 2023, 12 noon - Join Here
February 17, 2023, 12 noon - Join Here
February 23, 2023, 5:30 pm - Join Here
February 27, 2023, 12 noon - Join Here
February 28, 2023, 12 noon - Join Here

Pre-Application Webinar

MassCEC held a live webinar about the MWBE Grants, including eligibility, budget, and the application process, on January 12, 2023.

Watch Webinar Recording

View Webinar Slides

Frequently Asked Questions

These FAQs were last updated on December 28, 2022.

Questions are accepted on a rolling basis until February 20, 2023. Answers will be posted on the second Tuesday of each month. Submit questions to workforce@masscec.com.

1. If our organization is not ready to implement a MWBE support program, can we apply for a Planning Grant?

MassCEC may elect to award a portion of the MWBE Support Grant funds requested as a Planning Grant if the applicant’s proposed project contains sufficient detail to justify a Planning Grant but does not have sufficient scope to justify the entire amount of the award requested for implementation. Alternatively, applicants are advised to consider applying directly to MassCEC’s Equity Workforce Capacity and Planning Grants to fund planning prior to applying to future rounds of MWBE Support Grants for implementation funds.

2. If our organization has received prior funding from MassCEC via the MWBE Support Grants program or other RFP opportunities, are we eligible to apply to this opportunity?

Yes, applicants may apply for additional funds from MassCEC, so long as the proposed project is separate and distinct from the projects funded via prior support. Proposals suggesting upskilling or expanding an existing project, either in content or geographic/target population reach, that was funded previously by MassCEC may be viewed as separate and distinct. Proposals suggesting running additional cohorts of an existing project that received prior funding from MassCEC will not be viewed as separate and distinct.

3. Does the proposed budget have to be similar for each year?

Program costs may vary from year to year. Some examples include adding additional staff in year one or program plans that project to grow training cohort capacity across the grant years. These variations and others are acceptable and, in many cases, strategic. Applicants should detail the rationale and strategy in their proposal and budget narrative to ensure reviewers have clarity about their plans.

Other Resources

MassCEC will look favorably on applications that propose data-driven approaches and leverage pre-existing resources from the robust workforce development and clean energy sectors in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Applicants are advised to use the following and additional resources to inform their applications:

Networking

MassCEC is compiling a list of potential applicants interested in networking and partnerships for the open Workforce Equity grants. View the list here.

Sign up to the partnership list by sending your contact name, contact info, type of organization, and focus sector to workforce@masscec.com.