Executive Office of Economic Development - FY26 Social Equity Grant Program - BD-26-1100-EED01-EED01-122872 (2025)
Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development | Commonwealth of MassachusettsState · Boston, MA- Due
- Dec 11, 2025
- Deadline passed
- Posted
- Oct 31, 2025
- Primary contact
- Juan Vega
- (617) 788-3610
The 30-second brief
The Executive Office of Economic Development seeks applications for the FY26 Social Equity Grant Program to provide financial assistance and grants ranging from $25,000 to $300,000 to Massachusetts cannabis social equity businesses, including pre-licensed cannabis businesses, pending provisional licensees, provisional licensees, and final licensees. Eligible uses of funds include professional fees, facility fees, regulatory and compliance fees, debt service, equipment capital expenses, facility capital expenses, business-related insurance fees, delinquent taxes, vehicle expenses, and personnel expenses. Applications are due by December 11, 2025, via the Submittable online portal. Evaluation criteria include business description and leadership capacity, detailed project description, statement of need, budget proposal, social equity ownership, and area of disproportionate impact.
Clear business description and leadership capacity (20 points), Detailed project description with realistic timeline and outcomes (20 points), Compelling statement of need and clearly outlined budget proposal (20 points), Applicants that did not receive an FY25 Social Equity Grant Program grant award (15 points), Applicants designated as Economic Empowerment Priority Applicants (15 points), Cannabis businesses located in Area of Disproportionate Impact (5 points), Social equity ownership of 75% or more (5 points)
Hear what Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development | Commonwealth of Massachusetts plans next before it's posted.
Get alerts freeFree account · 30-second setup · No credit card
Summary
The Executive Office of Economic Development seeks applications for the FY26 Social Equity Grant Program to provide financial assistance and grants ranging from $25,000 to $300,000 to Massachusetts cannabis social equity businesses, including pre-licensed cannabis businesses, pending provisional licensees, provisional licensees, and final licensees.
Eligible uses of funds include professional fees, facility fees, regulatory and compliance fees, debt service, equipment capital expenses, facility capital expenses, business-related insurance fees, delinquent taxes, vehicle expenses, and personnel expenses. Applications are due by December 11, 2025, via the Submittable online portal. Evaluation criteria include business description and leadership capacity, detailed project description, statement of need, budget proposal, social equity ownership, and area of disproportionate impact.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Clear business description and leadership capacity (20 points), Detailed project description with realistic timeline and outcomes (20 points), Compelling statement of need and clearly outlined budget proposal (20 points), Applicants that did not receive an FY25 Social Equity Grant Program grant award (15 points), Applicants designated as Economic Empowerment Priority Applicants (15 points), Cannabis businesses located in Area of Disproportionate Impact (5 points), Social equity ownership of 75% or more (5 points)
REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS
6- Eligibility confirmation
- Information about the business entity applying for financial assistance
- Information about the cannabis business and its licensing status
- Project narrative
- Project funding request
- Certificates of Good Standing
- Submit to
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/cannabis-social-equity-trust-fund
- Scope location
- Boston, MA
- Reported agency
- Executive Office of Economic Development
Questions about this RFP
How do I respond to this RFP from Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development | Commonwealth of Massachusetts?
Review the full solicitation document for submission requirements, evaluation criteria, and deadlines. The submission deadline is December 11, 2025. Be sure to include all required attachments as outlined in the solicitation. Submissions should be delivered to: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/cannabis-social-equity-trust-fund. For questions, contact Juan Vega.
Can small businesses or minority-owned firms bid on this RFP?
Most government agencies, including Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development | Commonwealth of Massachusetts in MA, encourage participation from small businesses, minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MBE/WBE/DBE). Check the full solicitation for any small business participation goals.
What happens after the RFP submission deadline?
After the deadline, the issuing agency reviews all submissions against the stated evaluation criteria. This typically includes a compliance check, technical evaluation, cost analysis, and may involve oral presentations with shortlisted vendors.
Can I ask questions about this solicitation before submitting?
Yes, most solicitations allow vendors to submit questions during a designated period. The primary contact is Juan Vega at (617) 788-3610. Questions and answers are typically shared with all prospective bidders.
Show 4 more questions
What are the evaluation criteria for this solicitation?
This solicitation includes specific evaluation criteria that will be used to score proposals. The criteria include: "Clear business description and leadership capacity (20 points), Detailed project description with realistic timeline and outcomes (20 points), Compelling statement of need and clearly outlined budget..." Vendors should carefully align their proposals with each criterion to maximize their score.
Where can I find more RFPs from Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development | Commonwealth of Massachusetts?
All active and historical solicitations from Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development | Commonwealth of Massachusetts are tracked and searchable. As a state agency, Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development | Commonwealth of Massachusetts regularly publishes solicitations. Visit the agency profile to see current open bids, past contracts, vendor relationships, and decision-maker contacts.
What documents are required to bid on this RFP?
Requirements vary by solicitation, but common documents include a technical proposal, cost/price proposal, proof of insurance, relevant certifications, past performance references, and any forms specified in the solicitation. This solicitation specifically requires the following attachments: Eligibility confirmation, Information about the business entity applying for financial assistance, Information about the cannabis business and its licensing status, Project narrative, Project funding. Review the full document from Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development | Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the complete list.
What is the scope of this project?
This solicitation defines a specific project scope. The scope covers the following locations: Boston, MA. Review the full solicitation for detailed scope requirements.