The COVID-19 outbreak has negatively impacted many of our businesses. Some have temporarily closed and had to lay off staff, while others remain uncertain about their future and ability to stay in business. The City of Amesbury continues to support our local businesses in any way we can. This page will be a hub for information regarding grants, loans, resources, education and more. Businesses who have questions or ideas are encouraged to reach out by email to Angela Cleveland, Director of Community and Economic Development.
City of Amesbury - Community Development Block Grant MicroBusiness Grants
Accepting applications! The City of Amesbury is partnered with the City of Newburyport to apply for Community Development Business Grant (CDBG) funds to support microbusinesses (less than 5 employees). We currently have more than $250,000 left to grant to Amesbury small businesses. Grants of up to $25,000 are available! Visit the Small Business Relief Grants page to apply or learn more.
Restaurant Revitalization Fund
The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023. To listen to one of the webinar recordings on the details for this funding source click here.
Small business owners can apply for an EIDL advance of up to $10,000. Based on available funds, application terms vary. Check the EIDL page for updated information.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
The Paycheck Protection Program loan program is designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
Be a Bartender or the spouse or child of a Bartender
Experience a catastrophic event or emergency hardship
Lack the necessities of life, including financial, physical, mental, or emotional well being as a result of the catastrophic event or emergency hardship
Provide tangible documentation of the catastrophic event or emergency hardship
Thank you to Frank Czar of Creative Control for giving a talk about technologies your business can implement to help make your business run seamlessly and make your customers comfortable doing business with you! View the Create Your New Normal Webinar on YouTube.
Tax Relief for Small Business
There are a variety of federal and state tax relief efforts that businesses should be aware of. Including, Governor Baker has postponed the collection of regular sales tax, meals tax, and room occupancy taxes that would be due in March, April and May so that they will instead be due on June 20. Additionally, all penalties and interest that would otherwise apply will be waived. Learn more at the Programs and Grants - Business and Innovation page.
Workshare for Employers
If your company needs to reduce payroll costs because of a temporary decline in business, the WorkShare Program is your alternative to layoffs. WorkShare allows an employer to reduce the hours of work for employees in an entire company (or a small unit or department), and the employees receive unemployment benefits to supplement their reduced wages. WorkShare for Workers is where employees can file a claim.
Unemployment Information for Your Employees
Mass.gov has a very helpful page with guidance and information on unemployment. If your business closes, please share this information with your employees to assist them with unemployment claims, including for temporary closures.
The COVID Relief Coalition is a group of law firms, nonprofits and government agencies helping small businesses and nonprofits access emergency loans and other sources of relief.
Center for Health Security
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security shared an Operational Toolkit for businesses who are thinking about re-opening or expanding during this time. This includes a business risk worksheet and an assessment calculator.
We welcome our local business owners to reach out by email with questions, ideas or suggestions on how we can all better support you and help you through this crisis. Other ways in which we've supported businesses include:
Sharing information and communicating with the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce about resources available to small businesses
Appropriated 10 parking spaces downtown to turn into Grab 'N Go spots, for people to stop quickly and get take-out at our local businesses
Mayor Gove proactively reached out to the Merrimack Valley mayors from Newburyport, Haverhill and Methuen to support Senator Diana DiZoglio's bill for Governor Baker, asking him to allow alcohol sales with take-out orders. Mayor Gove Sent This Letter on March 21 (PDF)
Mayor Gove testified before the Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses in favor of Bill S2564, an Act to Support MassMakers
As the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Governor Baker's COVID-19 Advisory Board shares Next Steps for Businesses to Begin to Reopen Safely, the City of Amesbury has formed its own team to help Amesbury businesses navigate those guidelines. The Business Economic Adjustment Team (BEAT), led by Angela Cleveland, Director of Community and Economic Development for the City of Amesbury, will take the guidance given by the Commonwealth and help make sure that our businesses understand how they can safely re-open during this time.