Cambridge Equity Fund – Grant ApplicationThe Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts (SBN) is offering grants through the Cambridge Equity Fund to support Cambridge-based Black entrepreneurs whose businesses have been affected by COVID-19. Funded by the City of Cambridge’s State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), the program runs until September 30, 2026 and builds on the work of the Cambridge-Somerville Black Business Network (CSBBN).
Grants of $5,000–$15,000 will help businesses in the startup and growth stages with retention and expansion, while avoiding duplication of other city or ARPA-funded efforts.
ARPA Grants
Eligibility includes:
Majority Black-owned (51%+), for-profit business in Cambridge
Owner is 18+, a U.S. resident, and primary executive (Founder/CEO/President, etc.)
1–25 employees, at least $15,000 in annual sales
Adversely affected by COVID-19
Not engaged in illegal or illegitimate activities
Applicants must provide documentation to verify eligibility.
You can apply here: Cambridge Equity Fund – Grant Application
Advocacy & Partnerships
At the Cambridge-Somerville Black Business Network (CSBBN), advocacy is central to our mission. We work to ensure that Black-owned businesses are represented, heard, and included in economic decision-making across Cambridge and Somerville.
Through strategic partnerships with the City of Cambridge, local institutions, business associations, and community organizations, we advocate for equitable policies, increased procurement access, and sustainable funding opportunities. We collaborate to remove systemic barriers, expand visibility, and strengthen pathways to long-term growth.
By building strong relationships and advancing policy conversations, CSBBN helps shape a more inclusive, accountable, and equitable local economy — one where Black-owned businesses can thrive and lead.
Disparity Study
The 2023 City of Cambridge Disparity Study confirms significant inequities in public contracting and economic opportunity for minority- and women-owned businesses. The study found that every MWBE group was significantly underutilized as prime contractors across major procurement categories, and that certified Minority-owned firms are less likely to be awarded subcontracts and more likely to perceive exclusion from informal contracting networks.
In the private sector, firms owned by African Americans are revenue underrepresented, with revenues needing to increase by a factor of approximately 9.5 to reach parity with firm share
For the Cambridge-Somerville Black Business Network (CSBBN), these findings underscore the urgency of our work. Through procurement readiness support, technical assistance, funding access, and marketplace opportunities, we help Black-owned businesses increase visibility, build capacity, and compete more equitably. Advancing economic equity is not optional, it is essential to a stronger, more inclusive Cambridge economy.