City and Urban League Launch Second Year of Microgrant Program

Published on September 15, 2025

City of Hartford and Urban League of Greater Hartford Launch Second Year of Microgrant Program to Strengthen Small Businesses

Expanded grants and dedicated support staff will build on first year success, deepening the commitment to inclusive business growth

HARTFORD, CT – The City of Hartford, in partnership with the Urban League of Greater Hartford, today announced the launch of the second year of the Hartford Microenterprise Microgrant Program to provide critical funding and technical support to local small businesses.

Following a successful first year, in which 31 Hartford businesses each received a $2,500 grant, year two will introduce expanded grant amounts of $2,500 to $5,000, along with new dedicated staff to strengthen outreach, technical assistance, and program coordination. A total of more than $370,000 will be invested this year to help Hartford residents start, stabilize, or strengthen their dream of entrepreneurship and increase business activity within local neighborhood to create jobs, build capacity, and attract future investments.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Hartford’s neighborhoods, and this program ensures that our local entrepreneurs, especially those in historically underserved communities, have access to the resources they need to succeed,” said Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. “We are proud to continue this partnership with the Urban League, a trusted presence and longstanding leader in our community, and serve even more businesses in year two,” added Paige Berschet, Director of Small Business Initiatives and Support for the City.

To build upon lessons learned in the inaugural year, the program will now feature two new dedicated roles: a Program Coordinator to manage program administration and compliance; and a Merchant Services Coordinator focused on outreach and direct assistance to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. The program will also invest in marketing and promotional efforts to broaden awareness of available resources.

“From barber shops to restaurants to virtual services, small businesses of every type should feel welcomed to be a part of this initiative,” said Urban League of Greater Hartford Workforce Manager Nicole Porter. “We’ve partnered with the City on many other initiatives, but this one is particularly important to our mission of economic self-reliance,” said Urban League President & CEO David Hopkins. “We are providing access to funds, but also fueling the entrepreneurial spirit of Hartford.” Hopkins notes that the announcement was made just days after August’s National Black Business Month, underscoring Hartford’s commitment to advancing inclusive economic empowerment.

Priority will be given to microenterprises located in Hartford and those that benefit low-to-moderate income neighborhoods. Eligible microenterprises – defined as businesses with five or fewer employees – may apply at the Urban League for funding and will be awarded based on a required documentation, business maturity, growth potential, and alignment with community impact. This program is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and through the U.S. Department of Treasury's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The Urban League has been serving for over 60 years, and this program represents another way of fulfilling an important need.

For more information on the Hartford Microenterprise Microgrant Program, contact the Urban League at (860) 527-0147, email info@ulgh.org or visit www.ulgh.org.