HEDCO is a certified Community Development Financial Institution that has provided millions in loans to small businesses throughout the State of Connecticut since 1975. HEDCO is the top provider of low‑cost loans to minority and women-owned small businesses and other underrepresented small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the State, and offers various grants.

Who we are

The Black Business Alliance (BBA) is a nonprofit economic empowerment membership association with a mission to guide, empower, grow, educate, and advocate for Black businesses across the state of CT and beyond.

The Black Business Alliance (BBA), is a 501c6 non-profit membership organization; that seeks to EMPOWER, GUIDE, PROMOTE, ENHANCE, COLLABORATE and GROW small and medium-sized black and minority businesses throughout Connecticut and Nationally by addressing the gap in business access to funding, educational resources and statewide capacity building. 

The Black Business Alliance seeks to act as a primary collaborative entity for local and statewide black and minority businesses to create a culture of mini ecosystems to build self- worth, capacity building and community inclusion. Excellence in Business Standards is at the forefront of BBAs mission. We seek to align with the best practices held by local and national businesses to prepare the businesses in our community to compete effectively in the marketplace. 

Our aim is to stimulate a culture of self-worth, wealth-building, and community inclusion, resulting in a sustainable and economically empowered ecosystem with leveraged buying power. Since 2014, BBA has outreached to 600+ business owners and professionals in events for Community Economic Development, Speaker-led Seminars, and Business Education Workshops.100% of BBA Leadership is comprised of minority business owners and entrepreneurs with 20+ years of experience and vast, deep-rooted ties into minority communities. Currently, BBA has locations in the counties of New Haven, Hartford, and Fairfield.

The SBRC is the City of New Haven’s leading entrepreneurship clearinghouse, where new entrepreneurs and current business owners alike can obtain support and services that will support business start-ups and growth.

Connecticut Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is an accredited member of America’s Small Business Development Center Network — the most comprehensive small business assistance program in the United States with 42-year proven track record of service to small businesses. By registering to receive advising from CTSBDC, you will have access to resources and knowledge to help you achieve virtually any objective you have for your business. Every business is assigned an advisor who works closely with you

SAMA was created to assist businesspeople, in particular, Latinos, to acquire a better understanding of economic principles. Technical assistance is provided to promote business expansion, job creation, and new entrepreneurship.

At Pursuit, our mission is simple: to provide business with affordable loans and resources to reach higher, transform and grow. This transformation may start with an individual business owner, but ultimately extends into the broader community, taking shape as new employment opportunities, economic development, and positive change. Our mission guides our lending. When you work with us, you’ll have access to a community-focused lender that’s 100% invested in providing the best possible small business loan for you now, and in the future.

CitySeed Incubates supports food business viability among chefs from New Haven’s diverse communities by reducing barriers to earlystage entrepreneurship. We work to create economic opportunity for all, increase leadership by people-of-color and immigrant food entrepreneurs, and strengthen our local food system by linking rising food entrepreneurs and farmers.

Our Mission

Strengthening Connecticut’s neighborhood economies for more than 25 years.

The mission of the Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF) is to strengthen neighborhood economies by providing flexible financing, technical support and educational opportunities to businesses, community organizations, and initiatives in communities throughout Connecticut.

Your dreams are our mission. Your success is our passion.

We help stabilize and grow small businesses so individuals can realize their dreams, families can celebrate increased financial independence and communities can prosper. We provide financing and education to support the multiple facets associated with opening and operating a business. It is the sum of our services and resources that yields the greatest results for entrepreneurs to realize their dreams and achieve success.

Our values guide us toward being a trustworthy resource for those we serve. We’ve assembled an experienced team of business professionals who welcome the opportunity to help our clients take action, facing challenges with creativity and energy.

NHE3 is facilitating the growth of entrepreneurial pathways to economic independence and generational wealth.

New Haven is at an important inflection point; by boosting entrepreneurship and small business growth within under-connected communities, the community has the potential to undo structural inequities and remove the barriers to job creation.