Sector-Specific Relief Grant Program for Massachusetts Small Businesses

Description

**If you submitted an application during the first round of Small Business Grants, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SUBMIT AN ADDITIONAL APPLICATION. Applications from the first round of grants will be used in this second round.**

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made an additional $668 million available to support businesses through new and existing programs. Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) will target a portion of these funds to sectors experiencing the most significant economic hardship and a loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

These funds were appropriated through the Commonwealth’s Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) as well as the CARES Act of 2020. 

Who Should Apply:

Preference will be given to the following sectors:

Priority Categories:

• Restaurants, bars, caterers, and food trucks that collect and remit meals tax
• Indoor Recreation or Entertainment Establishments
  • Indoor entertainment establishments (e.g. movie theaters, comedy clubs, performing arts venues/organizations)
  • Indoor recreation (e.g. arcades, bowling centers, pool/billiard halls, escape-the-rooms, trampoline parks, roller-skating rinks)
  • Indoor spectator sports venues
  • Other indoor recreation or entertainment venues
• Gyms or Fitness Centers
  • Gyms, athletic clubs, exercise centers, health clubs
  • Sports facilities (e.g. tennis clubs, racquetball clubs, hockey rinks, swimming facilities)
  • Fitness instruction centers (e.g. aerobics, dance, yoga, karate, etc.)
  • Other gyms or fitness centers
• Personal Services
  • Nail salons, barbershops, etc.
  • Independent pharmacies 
• Event Support Companies - primary source (more than 50%) of revenue is event-related
  • Photography studios, videography studios, florists, limo services, event planning companies, event rentals, performers, convention and trade show organizations
• Independent Retailers
  • Businesses with brick and mortar locations that collect and remit sales tax

• All other eligible business types

Additional Information: 

This business relief fund targets the hardest hit small businesses that have an exceptional need of cash relief. Though many businesses have been negatively affected by the pandemic, not all needs are equal. To ensure that these limited funds get to the most severely impacted businesses, you SHOULD NOT APPLY if you:

• are not showing an operating loss due to the coronavirus pandemic
• have access to other sources of relief
• have been able to continue to operate without significant financial distress
• have adequate available reserves

Additionally, larger companies that are better positioned to endure this economic downturn and COVID-19 related restrictions should not apply.

An excessive number of applications submitted by businesses with lesser need will delay the awarding of grants to businesses facing extraordinary circumstances. An application review for a company without a truly exceptional need delays assistance for a business at risk of permanent closure.