Small Business Initiatives & Support

Recent Project Commitments 

We are excited to announce $1.6 million in project commitments to support eight new and existing businesses in key corridors across the city, with $481,250 required in matching funds, for a total of $2,081,250 being invested in the neighborhood corridors thus far:

• 651 Albany Ave - Jam Dung Supermarket: $250,000 Loan
• 714 Albany Ave - Spice & Soul: $175,000 Loan
• 790 Albany Ave - Island Fish Head Restaurant: $100,000 Loan
• 1108 Albany Ave - Upper Albany Main Street: $200,000 Loan  
• 880 Maple Ave - South End Pizza: $200,000 Loan 
• 891 Maple Ave - Fung Chinese: $175,000 Loan
• 617 Park St - Suites/Offices for Various Service Uses: $250,000 Loan
• 686 Park St - Caribe Restaurant: $250,000 Loan

Major commercial corridors including Albany Avenue, Barbour Street, Park Street (Between Main Street and Park Terrace), and Maple Avenue are eligible areas. 

Pre-Application Forms 

Business Owner and Property Owner Interest Forms are being reviewed on a rolling basis to allocate the remaining program funds.

If you’re interested in improving your property or expanding your business, we encourage you to apply today and be part of Hartford’s continued economic growth.

Are you are a business owner or entrepreneur looking to open a storefront in Hartford? Complete the Pre-Application/Interest Form below:

Complete the Neighborhood Investment Fund Business Owner Interest Form! 

Are you a property owner interested in opening or improving a storefront tenant space in one of the defined business corridors? Complete the Pre-Application/Interest Form below: 

Complete the Neighborhood Investment Fund Property Owner Interest Form!

Program Overview

For more details regarding this program, including eligibility guidelines, please review the program overview:

Neighborhood Investment Fund - Program Overview(PDF, 91KB)

Are you a community member who would like to provide input on the program? Complete the Input Form below:

Complete the Neighborhood Investment Fund Input Form! 

The Microenterprise Microgrant Program is designed to support Hartford entrepreneurs in developing, operating, and stabilizing their businesses. This program has $500,000 in its funding pool and intends to support microenterprises in the City of Hartford.

This program is administered through the Urban League of Greater Hartford. For more information and to apply for the Microgrant Program visit: https://www.ulgh.org/workforce. Contact the Urban League at (860) 527-0147, or email info@ulgh.org with any questions.  

The Upper Albany Economic Development (UAED) Program is a small business support initiative to boost resilience by closing the digital divide and offering customized business development solutions to small business merchants that empower them through networking and access to state of the art technological, financial, and operational tools to navigate post-pandemic business environments.

The City of Hartford had partnered with Upper Albany Main Street to provide in-person digital training classes to help Upper Albany businesses enhance their digital and business skills at their own pace. Upon completing the digital literacy training and business solutions training, businesses are awarded a laptop and $15,000 small business grant. 

If you are an Upper Albany area small business and interested in participating in the program, reach out to Upper Albany Main Street at uams.mbi@gmail.com or (860)-768-5847. 

This program is no longer accepting applications. 

The City of Hartford is directing up to $2,000,000 in the format of forgivable loans to small businesses and property owners in the City of Hartford through its Small Business Façade Improvement Program. The intent of this forgivable loan program is to improve the physical appearance of their storefronts in order to increase storefront traffic and promote business attraction and retention in the City of Hartford.

For more details regarding this forgivable loan, including eligibility guidelines, please review the program overview: 

FAÇADE PROGRAM OVERVIEW(PDF, 560KB)    UNA DESCRIPCIÓN DEL PROGRAMA DE FACHADAS(PDF, 554KB)                                                                                                                                                                       

This program is no longer accepting applications. 

The City of Hartford is directing $1,000,000 into the Small Business Investment Fund (SBIF) in an effort to stabilize the small business community post-pandemic. The goal of this program is to create and retain job opportunities, spur entrepreneurial activities, revitalize downtown and neighborhood businesses, and leverage private investments in the small business community. The program is also intended to provide necessary technical assistance to small business owners to build a strong foundation for future business growth.   

Award Amount: up to $100,000 per business 

Matching Requirement: 50% (e.g., $50,000 match for $100,000 grant award) 

For more details regarding this grant, including eligibility guidelines, please review the program overview: 

SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT FUND PROGRAM OVERVIEW(PDF, 513KB)

FONDO DE INVERSIÓN PARA LA PEQUEÑA EMPRESA DESCRIPCIÓN DEL PROGRAMA(PDF, 510KB)

Small Business Development Partners and Resources