Baker announces another round of small business grantsDate: 12/31/2020 BOSTON – During his daily press conference on Dec. 21, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced that small businesses across the state would receive funding as part of a grant program from the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC).
During the conference, Baker said small businesses struggled to keep their doors open more than anyone else during a difficult 2020.
“Small business owners, perhaps more than anyone else have gone through unimaginable disruption, loss, and uncertainty. Despite that, they have done everything in their power to keep their staff and their customers as safe as they possibly can, and to commit to the state’s safety protocols,” he said.
With the grants, Baker said more than 1,100 businesses will be receiving additional state aid, totaling at almost $49 million. Businesses in Western Massachusetts in this round of funding include businesses in East Longmeadow, Chicopee, Springfield, South Hadley, West Springfield, Granby, and Southwick.
“Today we’re pleased to announce we’re distributing grants to 1,158 Massachusetts small businesses. There were an exceptionally large number of applicants, more than 10,000 all in, seeking over $500 million in relief,” he said.
While the grants will help some small businesses, Baker said the state will do more to help them.
“The funds for the first round clearly didn’t cover the ground associated with those who applied. But I’m pleased to announce the Mass Growth Capital Corporation did receive an additional $17.5 million in small business relief from this year’s budget, and that budget also contains $9 million in small business technical assistance and grants,” he said.
Along with this first wave of grant funding, Baker said he also sent a supplemental budget to the legislature for even more support for small businesses.
“The MGCC will go back to the existing pool of applicants soon to select recipients for a second round. Last week we filed a supplemental budget that contains another $50 million in additional funding for small businesses, including $17.5 million for this particular grant program,” he said.
Businesses that already applied for the grant do not need to apply again to be selected in the next wave.
After Baker spoke, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said that the goal with this round of funding was to help some of the hardest hit businesses.
“Through the grants we are announcing today, some of the hardest hit businesses in communities across Massachusetts will be able cover a number of expenses. We made a concerted effort throughout the process to ensure these limited resources go to those who need it most,” she said.
Polito said all of the recipients of the grant funding were owned by people most affected by the virus.
“Of the 1,158 small businesses that will be receiving these critical funds, 100 percent are minority owned, women owned, veteran owned, LGBTQ owned, disability owned. More than one third of award recipients operate in our gateway cities, communities that have been hit extremely hard economically and by the virus itself,” she said.
Housing and Economic Development Secretary Michael Kennealey said about half of the grant awards would be going to restaurants, personal care providers, and retailers.
“Out of today’s grantees, 262 personal care providers, 217 restaurants, and nearly 100 retailers will receive awards. That’s close to 600 small businesses that support their workers, their workers’ families, and their communities,” he said.
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