New name, same purpose:

Mill Cities Community Investments + Foundation for Business Equity have become Nectar Community Investments.

Business Equity Initiative

Driving sustainable growth

The Business Equity Initiative (BEI) is Nectar’s flagship strategic advisory program. This award-winning, high-touch approach builds capacity, opens access to growth capital and leverages networking to expand business contracts.

BEI Advisors start with the unique needs of your business and dig deeper to provide the essential tools that you need to drive revenue and job growth. Every year, BEI provides more than 225 hours of strategic advising, mentorship and networking opportunities to primarily 25-35 Black and Latinx-owned businesses in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. With this support, BEI companies grow their revenues, create jobs and revitalize our communities.

How the Business Equity Initiative works

Eligible businesses are primarily MBE certified/certifiable and have more than $500,000 in annual revenue.
Nectar focuses on Black and Latinx businesses and matches businesses with experienced Strategic Advisors and Specialists (e.g., marketing, public relations, human resources, accounting, etc.) to develop and implement strategic growth plans.
Strategic Advisors work with participating businesses for nine months. The first step is co-creating a targeted strategic growth plan focusing on 2-3 specific areas to enable growth and scale their businesses.
Strategic Advisors and Specialists then provide implementation support.
Nectar subsidizes the cost, covering 80-90 percent of advisory fees. Participating BEI-enrolled businesses contribute proportionately to their revenue size.

BEI graduates value the program

100%

increased confidence in their business’ growth trajectory

100%

improved their company’s strategic outlook

93%

increased their company’s strategic operation efficiencies

out of 10 average rating for overall experience with the BEI program

BEI companies currently enrolled

Apply to BEI

Running a business is hard. You don’t have to go at it alone. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Before applying, please review the eligibility criteria. You can also email [email protected] for any questions on the program and application process.

Eligible BEI companies have a minimum of $500,000 in annual sales and are located in Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, or Northern Rhode Island.
BEI companies are for-profit businesses, primarily Black or Latinx majority owned and led, with committed company leadership that is receptive to coaching and guidance.
They have a solid business model with a distinct product, service or market and growth potential.
If this sounds like you, fill out an application. Once we receive your application, BEI staff will reach out about next steps.

Apply Now

BEI’s direct impact

115

businesses supported since 2017

$79M

new revenue generated (cohorts 5-14)

670

new jobs created

“We needed expert consultants, and Nectar’s Business Equity Initiative was the best program to help us achieve the goal of expanding locations responsibly. We are now better prepared to critically analyze every aspect of the business to make impactful decisions.”

Patricia Jorge

Founder, Joy Empanadas

Learn more about our approach

The Foundation for Business Equity has become Nectar Community Investments