MONTAGUE MICRO-ENTERPRISE COVID RECOVERY ASSISTANCE
9/30/30
Forgivable loans up to $10,000 FOR FRANKLIN COUNTY BUSINESSESThe Town of Montague is participating in a 23 town Microenterprise Assistance Program (Covid RMAP) administered by the City of Greenfield who is partnering with the Franklin County CDC to implement.
The program opens Thursday, October 1, 2020 with applications due by 5pm on Thursday, October 15, 2020 for the first round of funding.
Microenterprise Assistance forgivable loans of up to $10,000 are available to businesses to help cover documented business losses due to the COVID-19 economic shut down that are not covered by other funding programs. The region was awarded $600,000 for loans through the federal CARES Act and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
The town encourages eligible Montague businesses to review the program guidelines and apply if eligible. Businesses that have already received a Microenterprise grant from an earlier round may be eligible for an additional grant of up to $5,000.
Over $40,000 has been deployed to assist Montague businesses to date under the previous funding round. We know there is significant need in the community, and while this program will not be able to fund all of the need, it will connect business owners to technical assistance and also provide us with documented need for future funding possibilities.
“The FCCDC is available to assist business owners strategize how to sustain their business and learn about programs like this Micro Assistance Program” says Amy Shapiro, Business Development Director, FCCDC,
There will be 2 week application cycles until funds are depleted.
Minimum eligibility includes:
• Microenterprise businesses with 5 or fewer employees (including the owner) at time of application.
• Business owner’s household income is less than 80% HUD median income adjusted by household size (either using 2019 taxes or last 8 weeks of income)
• Business must be a for-profit business with a physical presence in Franklin County. (Excluded towns are Ashfield, Monroe and Rowe)
• Businesses must provide goods or services to multiple clients or customers.
• Businesses must be in good standing with the state and city/town.
• Business must have been established prior to 1/1/2019 and currently be in operation to the extent allowable under Re- Opening Massachusetts requirements or be actively planning to reopen.
• Businesses must have annual sales of greater than $20,000/year.
Two online information sessions for interested businesses: Thursday, October 1, at noon; and Wednesday, October 7, at noon.
Log-in information, application, FAQ, and forms at: https://www.fccdc.org/covid-recovery-micro-enterprise-assistance-program/
The application’s documentation requirements will include 2019 personal and business taxes, monthly profit-and-loss statements for 2020, family income form and other information that details the COVID loss.
Technical questions about the program can be directed to:
Amy Shapiro
Business Development Director
Franklin County CDC
324 Wells St, Greenfield, MA 01301
amys@fccdc.org
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FOR LINKS TO emergency Declarations and Measures and Health Guidance and Information Related to COVID-19 are available at the Montague Board of Health website page.
FOR LINKS TO Regional, State, and Federal Initiatives, Business and Non-Profit Loan Programs, and Utility Initiatives visit the Town of Montague website . This information will be updated as new resources are identified.
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