Events › Starting and Growing a Business – the SBA Advantage

Are you thinking of starting a business? Do you need small business assistance? The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can help!

Join Shelly Gillis, Outreach and Marketing Specialist with the Small Business Administration in the Massachusetts District Office, to learn how these services can work for you.

This workshop aims to provide you with a better understanding of the various programs and services offered by the SBA that are available to prospective or current entrepreneurs who need assistance in starting or expanding their businesses.

We’ll discuss:

• An overview of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
• The SBA Resource Partner Network – Learn how the SBDC, CWE, VBOC and SCORE can help through Business Training, & One-on-One Mentoring
•  Access to Capital – SBA backed Loan Programs

Let the Small Business Administration (SBA), help you get “procurement-ready” to market your firm’s products and services to the federal government through our Resource Partners Network. Federal Government Contracting can represent a very profitable market for your business — but it can also be extremely complex to get started and thrive.

The Small Business Administration and its resource partners can help you determine if your business is ready for federal contracting by assessing your business for:

• Marketability​
• Structure and experience​
• Systems and capacity
• Ability to find contracts

This is an in-person event. Register Here.

Accessibility Notice: We strive to make our events accessible. To request a disability accommodation and/or language services, contact the department listed in the "Contact Info" pane on the right. Please allow at least two weeks to arrange accommodation.

Shelly Gillis is an Outreach and Marketing Specialist with the Small Business Administration Massachusetts District Office. She’s passionate about supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Commonwealth by connecting them with community partners and resources.

Formerly with for the US Census Bureau for 13 years, she was involved in both field operations and Decennial Census promotion in the Boston area. She has a background in sales and marketing, having worked as an award-winning sales representative and sales manager with Entertainment Publications in Massachusetts.

Ms. Gillis holds a master’s degree in education from UMass Boston and a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Nebraska with an advertising major. She is a proud Boston resident for 32 years, but loves her Nebraska roots and is a loyal Cornhusker fan.