Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | December 6, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 13 woman with a child, I really did have to think differently to do well in the industry. I was very oen the only Black woman in the room, and sometimes the whole company," she said. Greater Boston remains the hub for tech jobs, said Curran, but she believes Worcester has the potential to be a diversity rich, tech hub. By offering training through STEM ENRGY, she seeks to draw tech businesses into the city by providing a trained workforce. Curran is exactly the type of professional Lawyers for Civil Rights is seeing flock to its programs, said Priya Lane, the director for LCR's BizGrow program focusing on entrepreneurship. Individuals were motivated to open their own businesses aer they were laid off during the pandemic, while others re-evaluated their priorities and decided to open their own shops, Lane said. "ey don't have the family history or culture of entrepreneurship in this country," Lane said. "It is those lack of connections that cause opportunity gaps that are not necessarily hard to bridge, but can definitely make or break the business if it isn't bridge." Curran reached out to LCR for help creating a non-disclosure agreement to protect her intellectual property, saying she wouldn't have been able to afford the legal services for STEM ENRGY otherwise. e lack of access to affordable legal services is one of many barriers keeping small businesses owned by people of color and immigrants from developing, Curran said. She said prejudice heightens scrutiny for minority groups, which results in them needing more legal protection they oentimes cannot afford. "Being a woman of color means that people look at me closer. I've always had to be exquisite with my output because I know that I would get more scrutiny," Curan said. "So, it is really important to me that I don't just Google something and fly by the seat of my pants, particularly with things such as legal matters and accounting matters." roughout its service area, BizGrow initially helped 54 small businesses in 2015. In 2021, that number has grown to 1,152 and counting. Supporting diverse businesses Diversity is naturally taking shape among small businesses owners as these new entrepreneurs look to blaze their own trails, Lane said. e Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce has seen a naturally forming influx of diverse-owned businesses in the city, which parallels national trends, said Sullivan, and affordability may be a factor, since Worcester is more cost- effective than locations east of Interstate 495, near Boston. In 2019, Worcester had 7,583 minority-owned businesses and 19,245 woman-owned businesses, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. e Worcester chamber has increased its programs specifically geared towards encouraging diversity and inclusion in business and ownership. In 2019, the Worcester chamber teamed up with the Worcester Regional Food Hub for its Launching Diverse Food Entrepreneurs, to provide free technical assistance to immigrant, refugee, and woman-owned businesses looking to enter the food industry. e StartUp Worcester program encourages diversity by training new entrepreneurs and providing them with tools such as free chamber membership and a coworking space. e goal of the program is to select future business owners with varied backgrounds and experiences and help them achieve their small business goals, Sullivan said. "We try to make sure that this is a home for everybody, that it is inclusive, diverse, and really respects the cultures of the people who choose this place as their home," he said. L A W & A C C O U N T I N G F O C U S Email circulation@wbjournal.com for more information. WBJ Purchase a group subscription for your team or entire organization. Get access to WBJ for your entire team. W Priya Lane, director of BizGrow Businesses Businesses Race without employees with employees Total White 472,000 114,020 586,020 Asian 36,000 10,970 46,970 Hispanic 40,000 3,457 43,457 Black 38,500 2,052 40,552 American Indian and Alaska Native 850 211 1,061 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 350 141 491 Mass. small business ownership, by race Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy 2021 Small Business Profile Award Winners will be revealed on December 8th THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS THIS YEAR'S FINALISTS ARE: • Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding, Inc., of South Hadley • Arvanitis, Phelan & Molta P.C., of Springfield • Belchertown Eye Care & Sunglass Shop, of Belchertown • Bert Hill Mover, of Westfield • Floor Source, Inc., of Auburn • J Smegal Roofing, of Lenox • Melody L. Beach Consulting Group, of Southbridge • Mercadante Funeral Home, Inc. of Worcester • Moura's Cleaning Service, Inc., of Fitchburg • Nandy's Cleaning Services, of Paxton • Northeast Home & Energy, of North Grafton • Stellato Bros., Inc., of Feeding Hills • Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital, of South Deerfield • Yankee Home Improvement, of Chicopee

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