CLIENT ALERT
By: Deniz Harrison
June 19, 2020
Many local Boston businesses are feeling the impact of COVID-19 on their bottom line. While the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston are allowing businesses to reopen in a phased structure, the new safety requirements imposed by the Commonwealth and the City may impose a financial burden on small businesses that have already been harmed by the pandemic.
To help businesses reopen safely, the City of Boston has established a $6 million Reopen Boston Fund. Through the Reopen Boston Fund, businesses in Boston with fewer than 15 employees working in close proximity, such as barber shops, hair salons, fitness facilities, childcare centers, food businesses, and retail shops, can apply for grants to help cover the costs associated with new safety measures. Such costs can range from purchasing PPE, installing safety partitions, or managing outdoor spaces, among others. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as received. Fund applications are based on the types of businesses being allowed to open in each of the phases outlined by Governor Baker to reopen Massachusetts. Businesses that do not qualify for relief under the Reopen Boston Fund include personal service businesses whose employees are able to work from home and online business.
To apply, businesses will need to submit proof of their commercial address, a vendor ID from the City of Boston, and a budget showing how grant funds will be used. For more information and access to forms and templates to assist in the application process, please see boston.gov.