Meredith Harris, MEDC executive director
Updated: October 30, 2023
2023 Fact Book: Doing Business in Central Mass.
Business services in Massachusetts
There is help out there for people who are starting or growing a business. The following is a list of some of the most prominent organizations who provide services for businesses.
BUSINESS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
Better Business Bureau
(serving Central and Western Massachusetts and Northeastern Connecticut)
400 Grove St.
Worcester 01605
508-755-3340
bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-central-and-western-ma-and-northeastern-ct
Services provided: Maintains data on reported companies and handles complaints against companies. Issues consumer alerts and warnings on fraudulent business scams and provides business advisory services, consumer guides, and reports on charities.
Marlborough Economic Development Corp.
91 Main St.
Marlborough 01752
508-229-2010
marlboroughedc.com
Services provided: MEDC is a public-private partnership operating as a nonprofit corporation, established by state legislation, which works closely with the Marlborough mayor and city council. Its role is to work directly with site selectors, developers, investors, and businesses to help them enter, establish, and expand in the city, in order to facilitate and foster economic development.
North Central Massachusetts Development Corp.
860 South St.
Fitchburg 01420
978-353-7607
choosenorthcentral.com
Photo | Courtesy of North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce
Roy Nascimento, president & CEO, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, which includes the North Central Mass. Development Corp.
Services provided: NCMDC is a nonprofit corporation aimed at creating jobs and improving the economy of North Central Massachusetts. It acts as a connector, facilitator, and partner for businesses looking to start, expand, or relocate to the region.
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) — Worcester
Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
311 Main St., Suite 200
Worcester 01608
508-753-2929
worcester.score.org
Services provided: Counseling in starting and running a business. Regional mentoring offices available on particular days of the week at the Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce (Westborough), North Central Chamber of Commerce (Fitchburg), Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce (Whitinsville), Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce (Shirley), Jacob Edwards Library (Southbridge), Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce, Hopkinton Public Library, and Milford Area Chamber of Commerce.
Small Business Service Bureau Inc.
38 Austin St., P.O. Box 15014
Worcester 01615
800-472-7199
sbsb.com
Services provided: Group insurance plans for small employers and individuals.
Worcester Business Development Corp.
89 Shrewsbury St., Suite 300
Worcester 01604
508-755-5734
thewbdc.com
Services provided: Nonprofit providing economic development for Worcester and the Central Massachusetts region.
COLLEGE-AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network at Clark University
Central Regional Office
PHOTO | Courtesy of Clark University
Robert Spellane, interim regional director of the Small Business Development Center at Clark University
125 Woodland St.
Worcester 01610
Mailing: 950 Main St.
Worcester 01610
508-793-7615
clarku.edu/offices/small-business-development-center
Services provided: Fee-based seminars and free counseling at the MSBDC and at outreach offices for startup, expanding and troubled businesses. All counseling services are confidential.
MetroWest Economic Research Center (MERC)
Framingham State University
100 State St., P.O. Box 9101
Framingham 01701
508-626-4033
merc-fsu.org
Services provided: Economic research, referral of economics and business administration majors for internships, economic data, and analyses to businesses, municipalities, nonprofits, and residents through conferences, publications, community lectures, and reports.
The Venture Forum
306 Main St., Suite 400
Image | Courtesy of Venture Forum
Zachary Dutton, Venture Forum executive director
Worcester 01608
theventureforum.org
Services provided: Informational programs, events, and networking opportunities aimed at helping entrepreneurs.
GOVERNMENTAL/QUASI-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
1 Mercantile St., Suite 520
Worcester 01608
508-756-7717
cmrpc.org
Services provided: Collaborates with governments and officials of Worcester and 39 surrounding Central Mass. communities to aid in planning and implementing regional and municipal development.
MassDevelopment Finance Agency
Central Massachusetts Office
89 Shrewsbury St., Suite 300
Worcester 01604
508-363-2799
massdevelopment.com/who-we-are/regional-teams/central
Services provided: Serves 76 towns and cities in Central Mass. Issues tax-exempt and taxable bonds; insures loans; assists manufacturers by providing resources; oversees development of large-scale real estate projects; and provides pre-development assistance funding.
MassHire Central Region Workforce Board
340 Main St., Suite 400
Worcester 01608
508-791-3181
masshirecentral.com
Services provided: Serves 38 cities and towns in Central Mass. A workforce board which develops and executes strategies for job advancement to promote economic stability in the region.
MassHire Metro South/West Career Center
39 Grant St.
Framingham 01701
508-861-7993
masshiremsw.com
Services provided: A public resource for regional employment services for job-seekers and businesses.
MassHire Metro South/West Workforce Board
420 Lakeside Ave., Suite 301
Marlborough 01752
508-281-6910
Services Provided: Works with businesses and public institutions as partners or to supply workforce information.
MassHIre North Central Career Center
100 Erdman Way
Leominster 01453
978-534-1481
masshirenorthcentralcc.com
Services provided: A public resource for regional employment services for job-seekers and businesses.
MassHire Worcester-Southbridge Career Center
5 Optical Drive, Suite 200
Southbridge 01550
508-765-6430
masshirecentralcc.com
Services provided: A public resource for regional employment services for job-seekers and businesses.
MassMEP (Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership)
27A Midstate Drive, Suite 200
Kathie Mahoney, MassMEP CEO and president
Auburn 01501
508-831-7020
massmep.org
Services provided: One of 51 MEP centers nationwide, helps small to midsized manufacturing companies with management and operations improvement, workforce development, and growth strategies.
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
75 North Drive
Westborough 01581
508-870-0312
masstech.org
Services provided: A quasi-public, independent economic development organization established by the Massachusetts legislature to develop the commonwealth’s information- and technology-based economy.
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Center for Women & Enterprise
Racquel Knight, Center for Women & Enterprise director
Central Massachusetts Center
69 Milk St., Suite 217
Westborough 01581
508-363-2300
cweonline.org
Services provided: Empowers women to become economically self-sufficient and prosperous through entrepreneurship.
Main South Community Development Corp.
875 Main St.
Worcester 01610
mainsouthcdc.org
Services provided: Community revitalization and development projects to promote affordable housing and small business.
Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives
17 Briden St.
Worcester 01605
508-797-4200
massbiomed.org
Services provided: An independent, tax-exempt corporation supporting economic development and job creation for the biomedical and medical-device industries throughout the region.
NewVue Communities
470 Main St.
Fitchburg 01420
978-342-9561
newvuecommunities.org
Services provided: Small business counseling including writing a business plan and finding grants and loans.
RCAP Solutions Inc.
12 East Worcester St.
Worcester 01604
800-488-1969
rcapsolutions.org
Services provided: Economic development, housing, and environmental programs.
South Middlesex Opportunity Council
7 Bishop St.
Framingham 01702
508-872-4853
smoc.org
Services provided: Economic and workforce development as well as community and social programs.
Worcester Common Ground
5 Piedmont St.
Worcester 01610
508-754-0908
wcg-cdc.com
Services provided: Promote and develop permanent and sustainable improvement in the neighborhoods of Central Worcester through affordable housing, community activism, economic development, and greenspaces that provide healthy food and educational opportunities.
Worcester Community Housing Resources
11 Pleasant St., Suite 300
Worcester 01609
508-799-0322
wchr.org
Services provided: Development, financial coaching, lending, and other services to support community revitalization.
Worcester East Side Community Development Corp.
409 Shrewsbury St.
Worcester 01604
508-799-6942
worcestereastsidecdc.org
Services provided: Property revitalization, economic development, and community initiatives.
Worcester Regional Research Bureau
390 Main St., Suite 208
Worcester 01609
508-799-7169
wrrb.org
Services provided: A private organization dedicated to conducting independent, nonpartisan research on financial, administrative, management, and community issues facing Worcester’s municipal government and the surrounding region.
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