HomeMy Public PortalAboutCommunity Development Block Grant COVIDCommunity Development Block Grant COVID-19 (CDBG-CV)
Microenterprise Assistance Program
Ashland, MA (July 17th, 2020)- Yesterday, the Baker -Polito Administration announced that
Ashland was the recipient of a $4,950,000 grant from the Department of Housing & Community
Development to assist small businesses in 23 cities and towns across the Metropolitan Boston
Region, including Watertown. This funding is part of the $19.6 million award through the
federally -funded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
The funding is being utilized to address emergency needs in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.
This funding will support 181 communities in their work to provide vital services to low-income
residents and small businesses affected by the recent outbreak.
Specifically, the grant award for these 23 communities will be utilized to award individual grants
of up to $10,000 for microenterprise businesses. A microenterprise is defined as a commercial
enterprise that has 5 or fewer employees, 1 or more of whom owns the enterprise and must be
a for-profit entity. Business type exclusions to the grant include: Real estate rentals/sales
businesses, businesses owned by persons under age 18, businesses that are chains, liquor
stores, weapons/firearms dealers, lobbyists or Cannabis -related businesses.
As the lead community for the regional effort, the Town of Ashland will work closely with the
Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation ("MGCC") to administer and oversee the grant
program.
"We appreciate the partnership we have with these 22 other cities and towns across the
Commonwealth, as well as the partnership we have with MGCC and the Metropolitan Area
Planning Council to put together such a competitive application" stated Town Manager Herbert.
MGCC will administer the application process and payment to businesses.
The communities that are part of this coalition include: Ashland, Beverly, Burlington, Canton,
Concord, Dedham, Essex, Lexington, Manchester by the Sea, Marlborough, Melrose, Milton,
Natick, North Reading, Norwood, Randolph, Reading, Sharon, Southborough, Stoneham,
Watertown, Winchester or Woburn.
An application will become available in the coming weeks. Individual cities and towns will be
responsible for distributing application information to microenterprises in their community.
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