U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Massachusetts District Office in Boston serves small businesses in all 14 counties of the state. It helps entrepreneurs and business owners use SBA funding programs, counseling, federal contracting certifications and disaster recovery assistance. Staff can also connect businesses with SBA partner organizations, lenders and community groups, and offer guidance on registering a business, finding state and federal resources and locating lenders in the area.

The office promotes workshops and webinars with its resource partners, on topics ranging from writing a business plan to export compliance. It also runs programs such as THRIVE Emerging Leaders: one Lexington caterer, Neillio’s, used connections made through the program to buy its building with an SBA 504 loan, structured with a local bank and packaged by a development company, which let the owner preserve capital for growth and hiring.

What to Know

• Keegan Shepardson serves as district director.
• Appointments can be set up for help at the Boston office.
• The office handles nominations for National Small Business Week awards and presents its own local awards to Massachusetts entrepreneurs.
• The SBA was created as a federal agency in 1953.