Growing Your Business in Framingham

The City of Framingham is dedicated to supporting growing businesses of all sizes. Through a 1st conversation regarding your business needs, we can connect you to local, regional, and state partners able to provide relevant and timely resources including:

• Business Assistance
• Financing
• Finding appropriate sites
• Incentives
• Licensing and Permitting
• Workforce Development

Finding Sites

The Community and Economic Development Division can help identify buildings and parcels to support your business. When provided with basic site requirements, we can identify appropriate options.

Licensing & Permitting

By adopting Chapter 43D at select sites, Framingham is demonstrating a commitment to expedited permitting. Through this process, the City adopted an expedited permitting approach that it applies to all projects throughout the city.

• Building, Plumbing, Wire, and Sign Permits through Framingham's Building and Wire Division
• Overview of Framingham's Plan-Build-Grow Initiative
• Project review and approval through Framingham's Planning Board
• Variances and special permits through Framingham's Zoning Board of Appeals

Business Assistance

• Access state resources through the Massachusetts Office of Business Development
• Business advisory services through the Clark University Small Business Development Center
• Federal contracting preferences for small business through the HUBZone Empowerment Contracting Program
• Free business mentoring from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) at the Framingham Public Library: Make an Appointment
• Regional networking and development programs through the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce

Financing

• Small business loans through the United States Small Business Administration
• Loans and guarantees, bond financing, and other programs through Mass Development
• Small business Technical Assistance and Financing through Mass Growth Capital Corporation

Workforce Development

• Clean tech-sector internship opportunities through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Internship Program
• Life Sciences sector internship opportunities through the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Internship Challenge
• Qualified candidates and streamlined recruiting through Employment and Training Resources
• Resources to train current and newly-hired employees through the Workforce Training Fund Program
• Tech-sector internship opportunities through the Mass Tech Internship Partnership

Incentives

Framingham is part of the Framingham-Marlborough Regional Economic Target Area. This designation allows the City to provide Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to business projects resulting in increased property values. The city will consider opportunities that:

• Attract new businesses to Framingham
• Stimulate job growth in Framingham

Some projects may also apply for an Investment Tax Credit through the Massachusetts Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP).