City of Newburyport Announces Small Business Relief Grant Program

NEWBURYPORT — Mayor Donna D. Holaday is pleased to announce a new Small Business Relief Grant Program to help Newburtyport businesses impacted by COVID-19. 

The City is able to provide up to 15 grants of up to $2,000 to qualified small businesses affected by COVID-19. Grants can be used to help address fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, lost sales, lost opportunities, and other working capital expenses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funds for the Small Business Relief Grant Program provided through the State Attorney General’s Small Business Relief Partnership Grant Program.

“Many of our local businesses had been shuttered for over three months due to the pandemic and those who remained open struggled through extremely difficult times” says Mayor Holaday. “Our local businesses are an important part of our community and we are fortunate to receive funding from Attorney General Healey’s office to create this relief program that provides financial support directly to our small businesses. We hope these grants can be used help cover rent, payroll, and other expenses as they reopen and get back on their feet”.

To qualify to receive grant funds, businesses must be a for-profit entity with:

• Fewer than 10 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
• Less than $250,000 in annual revenue.
• Registered with, in good standing with, and operating in the City of Newburyport (excluding chain or corporate franchise)

To apply, a small business owner must fill out the online application form, which will be available starting Tuesday, June 30 at 9 a.m. Business owners will be able to submit their applications at that time and applications can only be submitted online.

Grants will be awarded to the first 15 qualified businesses with complete applications on a first come, first served basis. Grants will be awarded to businesses the week of July 6, 2020.

The City of Newburyport is pursing other opportunities to grant relief funds directly to small businesses affected by COVID-19. Last week the City submitted an application for $400,000 of Community Block Development Grant funding that could be granted directly to qualified small businesses.

The Mayor, in conjunction with her Economic Recovery Task Force, the Licensing Board and the City Council, has also worked to streamline the permitted process for outdoor dining to support restaurants and retailers reopening in Phase 2 of the Governors reopening plan.

Questions can be sent by email to Finance Director Ethan Manning at emanning@cityofnewburyport.com.

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