By Fernando Rivera, R Unlimited LLC — Bristol, CT • Coverage: April–June 2026
This issue: Every meaningful event, grant, and free training available to Connecticut small business owners right now. 8 + 8 + 8. Save this page.
📅 Section 1: Local Events (Next 60 Days)
⭐ 1. SBA CT Small Business Award Ceremony — IN BRISTOL
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 9:45 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: Bristol Events Center, Bristol, CT
The SBA’s official CT ceremony for National Small Business Week — right here in Bristol. Network with award winners, city officials, and SBA lenders. This is the room to be in.
→ Register at sba.gov/event/82347
2. National Small Business Week Virtual Summit — FREE Online
Date: May 5–6, 2026 | 11 AM–6 PM ET | Free with registration
Two days of free sessions: AI for business, marketing, accessing capital, federal contracting. Best free business education event of the year.
→ sba.gov/national-small-business-week
3. Women-Owned Business Day — WBDC $25,000 Grant Pitch
Date: April 8, 2026 | Connecticut
Six finalists pitch for three $25,000 Accelerate Grants. Attend to network and get inspired.
→ ctwbdc.org/events/wobd2026
4. CT River Valley Chamber Networking — Every Other Wednesday
Bi-weekly structured networking in Glastonbury & East Hartford. Non-members welcome.
→ crvchamber.org/business-networking-groups
5. Bristol Bazaar — Vendor Spots Open Now
67 Race Street, Bristol CT. Year-round indoor makers market with open vendor spots + $5,000 in upcoming small business grants.
→ thebristolbazaar.com
6. Bristol Mum Festival — Book Your Vendor Spot NOW
Date: September 25–27, 2026 | Memorial Boulevard, Bristol CT
Bristol’s biggest annual event. Vendor spots fill early — book now before summer.
→ bristolmumfestival.com
7. In The Company of Women Luncheon
Date: April 16, 2026 | 11 AM | Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford (20 min from Bristol)
Major annual luncheon for CT women in business. Strong networking.
→ allevents.in/hartford
8. Central CT Chambers of Commerce — Live Events Calendar
Serves Bristol, Burlington, Farmington, Plainville, Plymouth, Thomaston, Wolcott. Ribbon cuttings, business after hours, local networking.
→ business.centralctchambers.org/event-calendar
💰 Section 2: Grants & Loans (Up to $500K)
CT Small Business Boost Fund
$5K–$500K • 4.5% fixed rate • Rolling deadline
CT business, 100 or fewer employees, 1+ year operating
→ ctsmallbusinessboostfund.org
WBDC Ignite Grant
Up to $10,000 • ~100 grants/year
51%+ woman-owned CT LLC, 2+ years, revenue $25K–$2M
→ ctwbdc.org/ignite-grant
WBDC Accelerate Grant
3 × $25,000 • Pitch competition
Prior WBDC grant recipients, revenue $100K–$2.5M
→ ctwbdc.org/accelerate
SBA Microloan
Up to $50,000 • Working capital, inventory, equipment
Apply through CT SBDC or local SBA office
→ sba.gov/district/connecticut
WBDC Waterbury Grant
$2,500–$10,000 • 30 min from Bristol
Deadlines: Mar 15, Jun 15, Sep 15, Nov 15
→ ctwbdc.org/waterbury-grant-program
CT DECD Free Navigator
Free call • Gets you a personal map of every program you qualify for
Best first step if you don’t know where to start
→ portal.ct.gov/DECD
🎓 Section 3: Free Training & Education
⚠️ Action needed before July 1: CT’s expanded privacy law takes effect July 1, 2026. If you collect customer emails or use website cookies, attend the SBDC Privacy Law Workshop on April 16.
- CT Privacy Law Workshop (SBDC) — April 16, 2026 | Online, FREE — ctsbdc.uconn.edu
- How to Win CT State Contracts (SBDC) — May 19, 2026 | Online, FREE — ctsbdc.uconn.edu
- SBIR/STTR Grant Accelerator — Apply by May 8 | 6 weeks online, FREE — Federal grants $150K–$2M+ — ctsbdc.uconn.edu
- CT SBDC Free 1-on-1 Advising — Ongoing | In-person or virtual, FREE — ctsbdc.uconn.edu
- SCORE Western CT Mentoring — Ongoing | In-person & online, FREE — score.org/westernconnecticut
- SBA Virtual Summit — May 5–6, 2026 | Online, FREE — sba.gov/national-small-business-week
- WBDC Workshops & Advising (Hartford) — Ongoing | In-person & virtual, FREE — ctwbdc.org
- CT.gov Business Counseling Directory — Every free resource in CT in one place — business.ct.gov
⏱️ This Week’s 15-Minute Action Step
The SBA Award Ceremony is May 6 — right here in Bristol. Register to attend. Even if you don’t win an award, the room will be full of Bristol business owners, city officials, and SBA lenders. That’s your network. Register at sba.gov/event/82347
Want AI tips like this every week? Reply “SUBSCRIBE” to riveraf30@gmail.com or chat with our AI Assistant to get started.
Bristol Talks: The Future AI‑Assisted City 
Leave a comment