SEED executive director to retire after 36 years

SEED’S Executive Director, Maria Gooch-Smith, will be retiring at the end of April. She was involved in establishing SEED in 1982 and has successfully served as Executive Director for the last 36 years.

Gooch-Smith and her team have made SEED the go-to economic development company assisting small businesses in MA and RI to start-up, grow, and create jobs. Over the last 36 years, SEED has been instrumental in providing funding and assistance to help small businesses prosper and improve the local economy. Since inception, SEED has made 2,124 loans to small businesses totaling $371 million, leveraging another $765 million in bank loans and private funds, and assisting in the creation of 12,866 jobs.

Starting with just five dollars in its first bank account, today SEED is well positioned for continued growth with net assets of $10.2 million, and a total loan portfolio of $83 million that includes $9 million in direct small loans up to $250,000.