The 8-week Goodwill Human Services Employment Ladder Program (HELP) prepares people for entry-level human services careers. The program also provides assistance with job placement. Please review the flyer below and contact Martha Pires for more information as well as to register for an information session ..read more

The International Institute of New England"s "Pre-Apprenticeship Program is for anyone who wants to work in construction, facilities maintenance, and the trades (carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc.). In this class, students will learn the foundational skills of the construction trades as well as general job readiness." Classes are mostly virtual, Monday through Thursday from 4-8pm. In-person attendance is required on the first day and for the last 3 weeks. Those final weeks are for hands-on training. Graduates will also be able to consult with a Career Navigator to look for and app ..read more

Bridges to College programs help people who want to go to college, but who need to improve their academic skills. These programs also help students fill out college and finanical aid applications, as well as make decisions about how college connects to the career paths that they hope to pursue. In the Boston area: JVS offers a a 19 or 23-week program, depending on your area of focus. The next program starts in the summer of 2024. Contact JVS at 617-399-3131. Cambridge Community Learning Center offers another Bridges Program, specifically for Cambridge and Metro North residents. The ..read more

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a variety of services and information to people who own small businesses or who want to start a small business. Some of the topics they cover include planning a new business, getting started with it, learning how to manage a company, and strategies for growing your success. SBA holds events, provides advice, and can connect you with area lenders. For additional information, please see the following: SBA: Online Learning Platform SBA: Launch Your Business ..read more

The English for Immigrant Entrepreneurs program combines English language instruction with the teaching of business-related skills. Students learn about marketing, customer service, loans, licenses, area resources, budgeting, creating websites, and supervising employees. In addition, they learn the English vocabulary related to these topics. For more information, please visit the English for New Bostonians website ..read more

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Microenterprise Development Program offers tools to help refugees develop successful businesses in the United States. This assistance includes technical help, training, as well as micro-loans of up to $15,000 ..read more

The City of Boston offers a variety of resources and guidance to help small business owners and aspiring owners start, develop, and successfully build a business in Boston. Their website offers a wealth of information related to grants, technical assistance, certifications, running a food truck, women entrepreneurs, and many other topics. In addition, there are resources related to getting advice as well as signing up for events and workshops ..read more

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is the country's largest network of volunteer business experts who provide free mentoring to individuals that hope to plan, launch, manage, and grow a small business. These mentors can offer advice via email, phone, and/or videocalls, and they can meet with clients on an ongoing basis. SCORE services also include trainings, webinars, virtual workshops, on-demand courses, and a variety of online resources ..read more

The State of Massachusetts has a variety of resources to assist people who want to establish and build a small business. These resources include information about: Training Advising Market research Creating a business plan Licensing Step-by-step guidelines For details, visit the website ..read more

MIRA, the Masschusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, is an orgnaization that promotes the adaptation and rights of refugees and immigrants. Their site has a "Business Resource Center" that offers a variety of business-related information, including links to state, local and national resources for immigrant entrepreneurs. Note that there are MANY links on this page, and some of them are no longer active. However, many of them remain active and provide a variety of useful information. You can also call MIRA at 617-350-5480 ..read more