Business Resources

The Springfield Business Improvement District (SBID) aims to be a resource for business owners, both those contemplating opening a business in Downtown Springfield and those who currently reside in our amazing urban center.  These are just a few of the services and a snapshot of the information we have available – we want to help you open a business in Springfield MA!  If you do not see an answer to your question please feel free to contact us here.

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[accordion-item title=”Architectural Lighting Program”]This program, in partnership with DevelopSpringfield, is designed to assist property owners located within the Springfield Business Improvement District (SBID). The Lighting Program will provide assistance to eligible property owners by supplementing and/or providing initial installation of Architectural Lighting to improve the physical appearance of buildings in the SBID. These guidelines are meant to foster identities for the SBID as a distinctive place to shop, visit, work, and live.

The three goals of the Architectural Lighting Program are:

• To highlight historical architecture within Springfield’s downtown metro area.
• To provide a corridor of light for night time visitors to the downtown area.
• To provide a level of comfort to visitors, increasing foot traffic and therefore economic growth.

For the first year of this program, the SBID is proud to sponsor buildings at 75% of the cost of all lighting and installation. This is a limited time offer which will not be guaranteed in future fiscal years, as funding changes budget to budget. Please click here for an application for lighting.[/accordion-item]
[accordion-item title=”Clean & Safe Team”]This team of men and women help maintain the cleanliness and safety of the Downtown.  The Clean Team provides a number of services including: removal of litter and graffiti, maintenance of street trees and landscaping of planters and hanging baskets, and tracking and reporting public space defects.  If you see a concern please contact us here.[/accordion-item]
[accordion-item title=”Event Support”]If you intend to have an event in Downtown we will attempt to help facilitate services such as crowd control, street closures, security, and clean up.  Although we cannot assist with every event, we encourage you to fill out this application and we will get back to you as soon as possible.[/accordion-item]
[accordion-item title=”Downtown Banner Program”]If your business or organization is interested in having light pole banners in Downtown please fill out this application and we will get back to you as soon as possible.[/accordion-item]
[accordion-item title=”Parking in Downtown”]Parking should not be a deterrent to doing business in Downtown, as there are many options available.

Springfield Parking Authority

Propark America

Tower Square

Monarch Place

Valet Park of America

Valet Park of America Monthly Opportunities

Meter parking – Parking meters are operated in the parking meter zones established every day between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise specified by the City Council and indicated on such meters.  Such parking meters shall not be operated on Sundays or during the hours of legal holidays during which certain retail stores are required by law to remain closed.  [/accordion-item]
[accordion-item title=”Financial Resources”]You are not alone when you start or operate a business, of any size, in the City of Springfield. Through the City of Springfield there are many resources, to find out more click here or for specific options see below.

• HUD 108 – Downtown Dining District Fund
• Springfield Historic Preservation Trust Fund
• DevelopSpringfield
• DevelopSpringfield’s State & Main Street Storefront Program – The Corridor Storefront Improvement Program (CSIP)
• The Emerging Technology Technical Assistance Grant Program from The Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED)
• Small business loans from The City of Springfield
• A small business storefront grant program from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program

Funding  Sources include:

• Common Capital
• Companies (SBIC) of Massachusetts
• Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC)

Private Capital:

• Accion USA
• Capital Investors
• Longmeadow Capital Partners
• The River Valley Investors (RVI)
• Meadowbrook Lane Capital[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title=”Business Incubators”]

• The Business Incubator at the Scibelli Enterprise Center (SEC)
• The Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce (MLCC)
• Gasoline Alley
• Indian Orchard Mills
• New England Business Associates (NEBA) Business Consulting Center[/accordion-item]

[accordion-item title=”Business Mentorship Programs”]

• Valley Venture Mentors
• SCORE
• The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) – Western Regional Office
• The Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship

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[accordion-item title=”Government Resources”]

• Office of Planning & Economic Development for City of Springfield
• Economic Development Council (EDC) of Western MA
• The State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (SOMWBA)
• The Small Business Administration (SBA)
• The Workforce Training Fund (WTFP)
• The Massachusetts Community Development Finance Corporation 
• MassDevelopment
• Employment Incentive Pilot Program: Serving individuals with Disabilities

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[accordion-item title=”Safety Grant”]

• Safety Grant-Department of Industrial Accidents 

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[accordion-item title=”FAQs”]The BID gets asked many questions such as permitting, park use, pothole repair, and more.  For some answers to frequently asked questions click here.[/accordion-item]
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