Brockton, Massachusetts (Sunday, November 16, 2025) Yves Cajuste, managing Editor, InfoHaïti.net – The Greater Brockton Minority Business Association (GBMBA) held its first post-summer meeting Sunday afternoon at the Cape Verdean Association, drawing dozens of small business owners and members of the organization founded three years ago to support minority-owned businesses.
The session, which resumed after a brief summer and early-fall pause, featured remarks from Mayor-elect Moises Rodrigues and a presentation by Metro South Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Christopher Cooney.
Rodrigues, who also serves as executive director of the Cape Verdean Association — the group that helped launch the GBMBA during the COVID-19 pandemic — welcomed attendees and emphasized the need to strengthen networks among local entrepreneurs. The association was created in 2021 to help minority businesses better access federal and state resources, particularly after the pandemic revealed gaps in organization, tax compliance and access to funding.
“As we learned during COVID, many small businesses in our community weren’t able to take advantage of available grants because they weren’t organized or certified,” Rodrigues told attendees. “That’s why this association was created — to bring our folks together and make sure no one gets left behind again.”
Throughout his remarks, Rodrigues tied the mission of the GBMBA to themes that defined his mayoral campaign, including expanding Brockton’s commercial tax base and improving residents’ quality of life. “During the campaign, I said we would focus on two things: improving the quality of life for our residents and growing our commercial tax base,” he said. “We need small businesses to grow. Without you, we are nothing.”
The mayor-elect noted that Brockton is the only majority-Black city in New England, something he said underscores the importance of ensuring local businesses can access state and federal opportunities. He highlighted programs such as state supplier diversity certifications, the TDI (Transformative Development Initiative, program and upcoming business grants, encouraging attendees to register and apply. TDI is a program of MassDevelopment, the state’s economic development and finance agency in Massachusetts.
“When your business grows, we grow,” Rodrigues said. “Anytime you’re hiring more people, anytime you’re succeeding, the whole city benefits.”
Rodrigues also announced his intention to revive and expand the GBMBA’s monthly meetings as he transitions into the mayor’s office. He said the city will pursue grants and partnerships aimed at helping entrepreneurs scale their operations. He also reaffirmed plans to create a new Business Advisory Council — a campaign proposal — that will work directly with the mayor’s office, city councilors and the school department to support economic development.
Cooney, the chamber CEO, followed Rodrigues with a presentation on the role of business associations, highlighting resources available to Brockton entrepreneurs. He emphasized that chambers and business groups can help owners navigate state regulations, access capital and network with other professionals.
The meeting closed with a discussion of upcoming training opportunities, grant programs and ways to broaden participation from the more than 150 businesses affiliated with the GBMBA.
With the city transitioning toward a new administration in January, Rodrigues said these efforts reflect a central goal of his incoming leadership: “bringing people together, sharing resources, and making sure every small business has a chance to succeed.”
