SSBCI Technical Assistance Program

SSBCI Technical Assistance Program

Provides free legal, accounting, and finance advisory support to disadvantaged Connecticut firms through federal SSBCI resources.

The SSBCI Technical Assistance Program provides free in-kind professional services — specifically legal, accounting, and financial advisory — to Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI) and Very Small Businesses (VSBs) in Connecticut. The programme is funded through Technical Assistance dollars awarded to Connecticut Innovations by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). Federal SSBCI authorisation runs through approximately 2030, making the programme active for the near term. There is no cash disbursement to recipient companies; the benefit is access to matched service providers at no cost.

To qualify, a company must meet all three initial conditions: it must be classified as a SEDI entity and/or a VSB with fewer than 10 employees; it must be applying for, preparing to apply for, or have previously applied for an SSBCI capital programme or another federal or state small business programme; and it must demonstrate a specific need for legal, accounting, or financial advisory services. Service providers matched to companies must themselves meet one of three professional criteria relating to their primary mission, marketing, or revenue/staffing allocation toward these service categories.

Companies apply via an online inquiry form at ctinnovations.com; providers apply via a separate provider application form. The programme runs on a rolling basis. Because the Technical Assistance is designed to complement SSBCI capital access programmes, eligible companies that are simultaneously pursuing CI equity investments or other Connecticut small business financing are natural fits for the matched service benefit.