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The original item was published from 12/11/2020 5:44:43 PM to 12/31/2020 12:00:03 AM.
News Flash
Town of Braintree News
Posted on: December 11, 2020[ARCHIVED] Mayor Kokoros Announces Rent Relief Grant For Small Businesses Impacted By COVID-19
Mayor Charles C. Kokoros is pleased to announce that the Town of Braintree has been awarded a $320,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to provide rental assistance to small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
CDBG is a federally funded, competitive grant program designed to help small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs. This particular grant assists municipalities in preparing for, responding to or preventing COVID-19 ramifications.
The funds, which were made available through the federal CARES Act of 2020, will be awarded to small businesses in town for the payment of commercial rent (up to two months) of their business location. The maximum total grant award to any small business is $5,000 for two months of commercial rent ($2,500 per month).
“Having three decades of small business experience, I understand the incredible strain that has been placed upon small businesses during this pandemic," Mayor Kokoros said. "Small businesses are always the first, and in many cases the only ones to donate to our local youth sports and many fundraisers in our community. They are always there for us and during this time of need we must be there for them." |
Small businesses in town must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply for assistance through the grant: |
- The business operates a brick and mortar location in the Town of Braintree. If a franchise, the parent company must be based in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- The business is a small for-profit business.
- The business has been unable to reopen until Phases 1-4 of the Massachusetts re-opening plan.
- The business employs fewer than five full-time employees and has been operational for at least three years in Braintree.
- The business has less than $1 million in total revenue annually.
- The business can demonstrate at the time of application that it is current on all state and local taxes.
- The business owner must be low- or moderate-income.
The town is currently working with the state to finalize the application process. As soon as the process has been finalized, small businesses will be able to apply for funding. For more information, please call the Mayor’s Office at 781-794-8100. |