News

Community groups in Boston to receive state grant to boost economic opportunities

BOSTON — The State of Massachusetts is giving out $500K to communities across the Commonwealth to boost economic opportunities.

In Boston, at least one-third of the nine grants from the state’s urban agenda program will go towards restoring businesses and ensuring under-served communities have the means to further develop.

From Springfield to Lawrence, from the North End to Dorchester, the grant will help business owners bolster local economy and improve the quality of life for everyone in the neighborhood.

“Our mission is to reignite the creative economy, improving the quality of longtime residents which are some of the state’s most economically underserved,” said Kai Grant, owner and chief curator of “Black Market” in Roxbury.

The American City Coalition, which encompasses the Black Market on Nubian Square and the Haley House Cafe in Roxbury received $100,000 for economic development programming.

Grant says it’s all about allowing the community to take the lead in building businesses.

“This is a time where we have to not just celebrate external investment, but really highlight internal investment and giving the resources into the hands of those entrepreneurs, founders and dreamers so they can have an opportunity to change their own neighborhood," said Grant.

The net wealth for African Americans in Boston is just $8, so the hope is that grants like these that can stimulate the economy in communities of color will change that outcome.

Boston 25 News asked Boston Mayor Marty Walsh if this state program will work in tandem with the city council-led economic initiatives like the recent push to give companies of color a preference on city bids.

“Absolutely, and it’s not even getting to the front of the line,” Walsh said. “Accessing these contacts that’s what helps them build wealth and helps them build security.”

This year’s urban agenda program also included recommendations from the Black and Latino advisory committees.

“You have to have housing options, you have to have employment options, you have to have transportation options,” said Walsh. “Sometimes you need those job training options, sometimes seeing those marketing options."