The Hartford Small Business Accelerator Grant Program

Funding Business Accelerator Projects

Mobilizing Small Business Growth

Through The Hartford Small Business Accelerator Program, Main Street districts are developing important interim space where business owners can showcase their products and services while accelerating economic development in the local community. In addition to supporting physical spaces, this program will support the development of a virtual accelerator program to provide training, networking, and mentorship for Main Street small business owners across the country.

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Please note:

All official communication about our grant programs will come from verified email addresses ending in @mainstreet.org or our trusted partner domains. If you receive an unexpected message, always double-check the sender’s email address before clicking any links or replying. When in doubt, feel free to contact us directly through our website.

Program overview

In partnership with the Hartford, the Small Business Accelerator Program is an initiative that supports small businesses by funding physical and virtual spaces in select Main Street districts to help them launch and grow. By funding the establishment and growth of multi-use places for small businesses such as pop-up shops, business incubators, coworking and other innovative spaces, the grant program aims to help entrepreneurs access affordable real estate.

In partnership with The Hartford, Main Street America offered three grants of $100,000 each to fund small business accelerator projects in Main Street districts in 2023. In 2025, additional communities were selected to receive grants to support the launch and establishment of accelerator sites and the operation of existing ones.

The Hartford Small Business Accelerator grant program was open through Tuesday, February 18, 2025, to a select group of eligible communities based on a demonstrated commitment to entrepreneurial ecosystem work and readiness to launch a project of this scale. Learn more about the grant opportunities below.

Meet The Grantees

In 2025, eight (8) communities were awarded grants to launch, grow, operate, or sustain new and existing accelerators in their Main Street districts through The Hartford Small Business Accelerator Grant Program in partnership with Main Street America.

Meet the Grantees

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Supporting Partner

The Hartford is a leader in property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds. With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at thehartford.com.

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries under the brand name, The Hartford, and is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. For additional details, please read The Hartford’s legal notice.