Press Release  AG’s Office Awards $500,000 to Provide Relief to Small Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic

Boston — A grant program through Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office will award $500,000 to provide financial relief to small businesses impacted by closures and losses as a result of COVID-19.

The AG’s Small Business Relief Partnership Grant Program will provide funding to municipalities and regional planning agencies that are assisting small businesses in the communities they serve. Grant funds will be distributed by these organizations to help small businesses address fixed debt, payroll, accounts payable, lost sales, lost opportunities, and other working capital expenses incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our small businesses have suffered greatly by the financial crisis caused by this pandemic – we hope that this funding provides some relief as we work together to rebuild our economy,” said AG Healey. “We’ve been listening to our small businesses and will continue to look for ways to get them the support and resources they need during this challenging time.”

The following municipalities and regional planning organizations were awarded grant funding:

The following municipalities were awarded grant funding: Barnstable, Bellingham, Chelmsford, Easthampton, Holyoke, Lynn, Medford, New Bedford, Newburyport, Orange, Pembroke, and Revere.                                                        

The following regional planning organizations were awarded grant funding: Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, and the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission.

This grant was funded by settlement funds secured by the AG’s Office. As a condition of receiving the grant, all funds must be distributed directly to small businesses, and no portion of these funds may be used to defray administrative or operational costs.

The AG’s Office also recently contributed $50,000 to the City of Boston’s Small Business Relief Fund, which provides financial support to small businesses in Boston.

The AG’s Office is currently providing information that small businesses can use to connect them with resources that may need, including finding loans and insurance information. The AG’s Office also joined a COVID Relief Coalition partnership to provide pro bono legal assistance to vulnerable small businesses. If you are the owner of a small business in Massachusetts, please consider filling out the Office’s informational form.

Visit the AG’s COVID-19 resource page for information about how the AG’s Office can provide support during this crisis.

STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT:

"The Town of Barnstable is pleased to have been selected to receive a Small Business Relief Partnership Grant from the Attorney General’s Office. This will enable us to leverage funds from MassDevelopment, and provide immediate cash flow with a flexible end use to help small businesses and arts/culture non-profits in Downtown Hyannis remain viable until operations can return to a new normal. We’re targeting businesses and organizations that not only need financial assistance, but that are proactively taking steps to ensure their survival post COVID-19 and actively contributing to the vibrancy and critical services of the Hyannis Main Street neighborhood." -Elizabeth Jenkins, Barnstable Director of Planning and Development

“Bellingham’s Small Business Relief Partnership Grant award from the Attorney General’s Office is welcomed news for our business community. The Town plans to get these grant funds out quickly to assist our small business community as they make plans to reopen their doors in the days and weeks ahead. Without the support of programs like this many of our residents who have spent a lifetime building their businesses would be facing permanent closure.” - Daniel Spencer, Chairman, Bellingham Board of Selectmen.

“The Town of Chelmsford appreciates the Attorney General’s assistance for small business.  The Town will be mindful to help those women and minority-owned small businesses that need extra support to recover in the months ahead. These entrepreneurs provide the unique business ventures that form the character of the community.” - Paul Cohen, Chelmsford Town Manager

“I am focused on the safety of Easthampton residents, knowing the grave affect COVID-19 has on the small businesses that have been the backbone of Easthampton’s local economy for generations. This Small Business Relief Partnership Grant of $30,000.00 from the Attorney General’s office shows Maura Healey is the people’s lawyer, a partner to cities and small business’s advocate. These dollars are a key to the survival of our local economy.” -Nicole LaChapelle, Mayor of Easthampton

“The pandemic has presented a unique challenge to keep our local economies standing, so we’re very happy to partner with the Attorney General to provide direct aid to small businesses. To date we’ve committed $90,000 towards the task and this additional grant will allow us to reach a wider portfolio.” - Alex Morse, Mayor of Holyoke

“The AG’s Small Business Relief Partnership Grant Program will bring some additional relief to the small businesses in the City as they try to survive the adverse economic impact of this pandemic. I would like to thank Attorney General Maura Healey for awarding the City of Lynn a grant to help these small businesses that are hurting as we work to rebuild the economy and help them stay afloat.” -Thomas M. McGee, Mayor of Lynn

“On behalf of the City of Medford I want to sincerely thank Attorney General Maura Healey and the Small Business Relief Grant Program for this generous grant to support our incredible small business network. We are working tirelessly with our business partners to ensure that as our economy begins to reopen, the small businesses that make up the fabric of our community are able to reopen and to support their employees. This grant award will make a huge impact to our community, and we cannot thank you enough.” - Breanna Lungo-Koehn, Mayor of Medford

“I’m pleased that businesses in New Bedford will benefit from the Attorney General’s small business relief grant, and I’m grateful for her partnership and her office’s focus on providing real and meaningful assistance to the people affected by this crisis.” - Jon Mitchell, Mayor of New Bedford

“Revere’s small businesses have been hit hard and while we can’t solve every problem they are facing, we’re committed to showing up and supporting them however we can. With the City’s Small Business Emergency Response team, we have been in constant communication with the affected businesses and strive to help them in any means possible – be it grants, multilingual listening sessions, access to PPE, or other resources. The Attorney General’s Small Business Relief Partnership Grant Program will allow us to continue that support and we are incredibly grateful for the Attorney General’s continued partnership.” -Brian Arrigo, Mayor of Revere

“This grant will allow us to directly assist as many as 50 Berkshire County businesses as they deal with unavoidable expenses – crucial help for them and a key component of our regional strategy to respond to and recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19.” - Laura Brennan, Senior Planner, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

“The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) would like to thank Attorney General Maura Healey for its Small Business Relief Partnership Grant award.  Small businesses are a vital part of our economy, and we are grateful and honored to receive this funding. We look forward to partnering with the Attorney General’s office to provide financial relief to 23 small businesses within our region who have been most impacted by closures, policies or general loss of revenue due to COVID-19.”

- Janet A. Pierce, Executive Director, Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission

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