Massachusetts: Small Business Assistance Program

The City of Gardner is accepting applications for its Small Business Assistance Program.

Donor Name: City of Gardner

State: Massachusetts

City: Gardner

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 10/31/2022

Size of the Grant: $25,000

Details:

The primary objective of this program is to make American Rescue Plan coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery funds available to small businesses that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the program is to support the economic sustainability and recovery of those businesses which serve all of Gardner, including Low- to Moderate- Income residents of the community-wide population.

Funding Information

Businesses who received less than $25,000 and are eligible for the full amount may apply for the difference.

Eligibility Criteria

Small Business Assistance grants will be awarded to eligible, for-profit, small businesses. Eligible businesses are those whose owner or owners are at least 18 years of age, employ 50 or fewer employees, including the owner or owners, are located within Gardner, provide goods or services to multiple clients or customers, are in current operation and were established prior to October 1, 2019, whose owner or owners are in good standing with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and City of Gardner with respect to taxes due through March 1, 2021, and required licenses and registrations, and who are not a party to any litigation involving the aforementioned state or municipality.
Additionally, eligible businesses must have experienced, and be able to document, a loss of income due to covid-19 which is equal to or greater than the amount of financial assistance being requested or offered.
Ineligible businesses are those consisting of real estate rentals or sales, liquor sales, weapons or firearms sales, cannabis sales, lobbying activities, or corporate chains.
The minimum eligibility criteria as established by the City of Gardner Small Business Assistance Program are listed below:
- Businesses must be a small business adversely impacted by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The term “small business” is defined as a commercial enterprise that has 50 or fewer employees (including the owner or owners).
- Business must be a for-profit business entity (sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, or LLCs).
- Business must have a physical establishment located within Gardner and must provide goods or services to multiple clients or customers.
- Business must be currently in operation and have been established prior to October 1, 2019.
Business must be in good standing with the state and City of Gardner at the time of application with respect to the following:
- Current on all taxes due through March 1, 2021
- Active and valid applicable state licenses/registrations
- Not a party to litigation involving the state or City of Gardner
Business must be able to document a loss of income due to Covid-19 which is equal to or greater than the requested amount of assistance provided by this grant.
Business must not be listed as one of the following excluded business types:
- Real estate rentals/sales businesses
- Businesses owned by persons under age 18
- Businesses that are chains
- Liquor stores
- Weapons/firearms dealers
- Lobbyists
- Cannabis-related businesses
Business must serve the entire Community-wide area of Gardner, a City with a 54% proportion of Low- to Moderate-Income (LMI) residents.
Adverse impacts of COVID-19 must be documented as part of the application process and any funds awarded as part of this program must be equal to or less than the adverse financial impacts of COVID-19 experienced by the business as documented within the application.

Eligible Expenses

This grant reimburses eligible expenses paid between July 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, up to $25,000, based on documented financial losses resulting from Covid-19