Specifications include, but are not limited to: The Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion seeks a partner to create, administer, and execute two business development grant programs: 1. Supplying Capital and Leveraging Education (SCALE) The first grant program is part of the City of Boston’s larger Supplying Capital and Leveraging Education (SCALE) program. This grant-making process will serve to both select a cohort of businesses to participate in the SCALE program and make a series of grants to those businesses selected for the SCALE program, including the in-kind award of technical assistance, business consulting, and capital advisory services (the SCALE program) as well as a monetary award of up to $200k for each business. The grant program funding, provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, is anticipated to total $5 million (200k per business with an anticipated cohort of approximately 25 businesses) and will be disbursed by the first quarter of 2025. 2. Boston Contracting Opportunity Fund (BCOF) Our chosen partner will also administer the Boston Contracting Opportunity Fund (BCOF). The fund provides grants of up to $15,000 to certified businesses* based in Boston for capacity building investments that bolster their operational capabilities and levels the playing field for businesses that have been historically excluded from competing for City and other public sector contracts. The grant program funding, provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, is anticipated to total $1 million (up to $15,000 per business with anticipated awards to approximately 70 businesses) and will be disbursed by the first quarter of 2025.
