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These new small business grants won't go very far

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These new small business grants won't go very far

Maybe I was overly optimistic when I put out the lawn chairs on Wednesday.
 
What's worse is what these wild weather swings are doing to our streets but not -- surprisingly -- to maple syrup production.
 
Here's what you need to know before you go out to shovel.
 
Watertown lifts masks, Brookline ends vax
 
Watertown lifted its indoor face mask mandate yesterday.
 
And today the CDC is expected to significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines.
 
Of course, individual businesses and employers in any community may choose to continue requiring masks at their facilities if they choose to do so. And many still do. In fact, yesterday we heard about a local fitness club that has hours for those who prefer to work out with a mask and other mask-free hours.
 
Also yesterday: Brookline joined Boston by ending its vaccine card requirement in restaurants, gyms and other locations. Indoor mask mandates remain in Brookline and Boston. 
 
New small business grants won't go very far
 
Gov. Charlie Baker unveiled two new small business grant programs this week.
 
The grants are modeled on a program Baker says were "a life saver and game changer” for hundreds of small businesses last year.
 
He's right they were. And this week's announcement was good news.
 
Here’s the less good news: While last year’s program distributed $705 million to over 15,000 small businesses across Massachusetts, there’s only $75 million to go around this time.
 
That’s all the administration was allocated for business relief by lawmakers late last year as part of that $4 billion ARPA relief bill approved, as you may recall, after months of thumb twiddling.
 
Meanwhile, the state is still sitting on $2.3 billion in unallocated ARPA funds. And our municipalities have their own buckets of money from the federal relief law.
 
And that sets Jon Hurst’s hair on fire
 
"You have to wonder what local and state government are waiting for to spend more of their ARPA funds," Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, told Matt Murphy at State House News.
 
"Are they waiting for more dark storefronts? Are they waiting for COVID to be totally in the rearview mirror so they can spend it on unrelated purposes?
 
"Those who believe the small business failures are over don't understand that you can't survive indefinitely with both lower sales and far higher costs," Hurst added.
 
Details about both new grant programs
 
As was the case with that larger $705 million pool of relief last year, the two new grant programs will once again be administered by Mass Growth Capital Corporation.
 
Unlike last year, these MGCC grants will not be first come first serve. The deadline for both programs is April 4.
 
And, no, nonprofits are not eligible -- even though nonprofits are businesses too, right?
 
Businesses with between two and 50 people can apply for one of two different programs:
 
  • $50 million in grants will be available to small businesses impacted by COVID-19, with priority given to businesses that serve socially and economically disadvantaged communities and those owned and operated by minorities, women, veterans, members of the LGBTQ community, and those with disabilities.
 
  • Another $25 million is reserved for businesses that did not previously qualify for relief funding under the initial program.
 
Under both categories, grants will range from $10,000 to $75,000. Grant funding can be used for employee and benefit costs, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, and interest on debt.
 
MGCC President Larry Andrews said he expects both programs will be “oversubscribed." ?His goal is to start awarding money by the end of April or early May, depending, in part, on the volume of applications received.
 
 
All aboard for Union Square!
 
Starting March 21, it will be possible to take the Green Line at Riverside Station in Newton all the way to Union Square in Somerville – part of the long delayed Green Line extension project.
 
Don't forget to bring a book.
 
Other need to knows
 
  • Chef Douglass Williams, owner of MIDA in Newtonville and the South End (and a chamber member) has been nominated for Outstanding Chef award from the James Beard Foundation. The winners will be announced in Chicago on June 13.
 
  • Wellesley voters go to the polls Tuesday to, among other contests, fill a three-year seat on the Select Board. The Swellesley report has Q&A’s with the candidates: Odessa Sanchez and incumbent Lise Olney. Meanwhile, Wellesley has decided that annual Town Meeting, set to start March 28 will once again be virtual. 
  • J.P. Licks 3rd annual sock drive ends Monday. Customers who bring in new socks to J.P. Licks in Newton, Wellesley or other locations will receive a coupon (good for next visit) for each pair of donated socks. Donations will go to Rosie’s Place, the oldest woman’s shelter in the country.
 
  • Service Properties Trust, a Newton-based real-estate investment trust that owns more than 300 hotels in the US, including the Royal Sonesta in Cambridge, has sued nine insurers for refusing to pay out for its COVID losses. (Universal Hub)
 
  • Needham is hosting a three-part discussion series on policing. The first discussion in the "Connections: Cops & Community" series is "History of Policing: Then and Now". This discussion will take place on Tuesday, March 1 from 7:00 - 8:30 PM at the Center at the Heights. Register.
 
Snow day excursion: Explore the Watertown Dam from your laptop
 
The Charles River Watershed Association has taken another step in its advocacy for removing the Watertown Dam in a just-released interactive story map. 
 
The site features lots and lots of fish pictures (and I adore pictures of fish) but more importantly notes that the dam has been rated a hazard potential that in the event of a severe storm could result in “risk of loss of life, damage to property and critical infrastructure, and large-scale economic disruption” in parts of Watertown, Newton and Brighton.  
 
One last plug for our Love Local campaign
 
We're entering the final weekend of our month-long “Love Local: Support our Restaurants” campaign in support of our restaurant community in Newton, Needham, Watertown and Wellesley.
 
And unfortunately today's weather could provide yet another set-back for our restaurants.
 
But it's not too late to help.
 
?Go here to search our Find It Local directory of 90+ local restaurants that would greatly appreciate your take-out order or in-person visit this weekend.
 
And even if your house bound today (or reading this while on vacation in Florida) go here and download one or more of our ready-to-use graphics (we just updated our library) to share in your social media feeds, newsletters and anywhere else you can.
 
?Use as is, or customize to your brand/business, and share in your social media feeds, e-newsletters, etc.
 
This week's final word
 
Let's end with these thoughts from Needham state Rep. Denise Garlick, taken from her newsletter yesterday…
 
"There is a woman just like me in the Ukraine. She loves her husband, is so very proud of her adult children and adores her grandchildren. She does meaningful work in a community surrounded by friends and neighbors. I am horrified by the horror she feels as she watches as her country is invaded and I am terrified by the terror she is feeling for the safety of her loved ones. She will be murdered tonight because of the actions [by a] craven despot [as he] searches for old glory and new powers."
 
"There is no justification for this war and no excuse for the killing of innocents. I stand with our President and all those who condemn and seek to hold Putin accountable."
 
 
That's this week's Need To Knows. Be back Tuesday.
 
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President
Charles River Regional Chamber
617.244.1688
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