Business Resources

COVID-19 Information for Businesses

If your business or non-profit was impacted by the coronavirus and you are seeking assistance, please fill out the form below. We are working hard to identify state and federal resources to aid Gloucester businesses and non-profits during this difficult time. Thank you. 

COVID-19 Business Assistance Request Form

COVID-19 North Shore Business Guidance for Employers

For general business questions please email:  business@gloucester-ma.gov

City of Gloucester COVID-19 Emergency Small Business Grant Program

PROGRAM IS NOW CLOSED AND APPLICATIONS ARE BEING REVIEWED

The City of Gloucester has established the COVID-19 Emergency Small Business Grant Program to assist in the stabilization of existing small businesses within the City of Gloucester that have had significant business disruption due to the impact of COVID-19. These grant funds will assist small businesses in the City of Gloucester to cover working capital, wages, rent, loss of inventory, and other fixed costs.

The program provides short-term working capital assistance to enable the viability of the business and retention of jobs during the severe economic interruption related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting social distancing.

The goals of this program include:

  • Alleviate some of the financial burden on small, local businesses created by the COVID-19 virus and associated public health and safety restrictions
  • Assist in the short term viability of businesses and employee retention
  • Assist businesses that are not eligible or have not accessed other Federal funding programs, i.e. the SBA’s EIDL and PPP programs

Program Funding

Funding for this program will be provided through the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, which are allocated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD CDBG funds must benefit low/moderate income residents, business owners, or neighborhoods; this requirement will need to be met by one of two options listed below for a business to receive assistance.

Assistance is in the form of a grant, up to $10,000.  The grant will require repayment only if the terms of the grant agreement are not met.

Eligibility

  • Must be a Gloucester based business impacted by the COVID-19 public health and safety measures. 
  • Must be a for-profit business.
  • The business must have no outstanding tax liens or legal adjustments.
  • Have experienced a loss of revenue of 50% or more due to COVID-19 since March 10, 2020.
  • Have less than $2,000,000 in gross annual receipts.
  • HUD CDBG Eligibility: The business must meet HUD eligibility requirements by qualifying as either:
    • Option 1: A microenterprise business – meaning a business with five or fewer employees including the owner AND the owner must earn a household annual income of equal to or less than 80% Area Median Income (AMI); OR
    • Option 2: A small business having any number of employees where, through the award of this grant funding, at least one job is either retained by a low- to moderate-income employee or created for one such individual.

     Current  80% AMI limits are as follows:

HUD Income image

Ineligible Applicants

Ineligible applicants include, but are not necessarily limited to independent contractors, check cashing agencies, gun shops, pawn shops, liquor stores, adult entertainment businesses, and dollar stores. Ineligible applicants also include franchisees of national or regional chain businesses.

The City reserves the right to reject any application that is incomplete or does not meet the Program Requirements in the sole opinion of the Community Development Department Grants Division. In addition, the City may decide on a case-by-case basis to reject any application that does not meet and advance the goals of this Program.

Application Requirements

Please have the following documentation ready when you begin the application: 

  • General costs/budget for grant funds.
  • DUNS #: You can get a number or look up yours here: Dun and Bradstreet. 
  • Completed W-9 Form, use the link to download: Form W-9.
  • Documentation that supports revenue losses beginning March 10, 2020.
  • Income Tax Return (Form 1120 or 1040) for 2019, whether or not it has been filed with the IRS.

Once you begin your application you will have the option to save your progress, but this information will be required in order to complete the application. Any applications that remain incomplete after the deadline will be removed from the database.   

A microenterprise business – meaning a business with five or fewer employees including the owner AND the owner must earn a household annual income of equal to or less than 80% Area Median Income (AMI).

A small business having any number of employees where, through the award of this grant funding, at least one job is either retained by a low- to moderate-income employee or created for one such individual.

Questions? Please email grants@gloucester-ma.gov

Informational Zoom Meeting - to watch a recording of the informational Zoom meeting we held on Thursday, May 7th please visit Zoom Meeting May 7th. 

Approved uses of funding

Employee payroll costs, loss of inventory, rent, other fixed costs. Other costs may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Detailed invoices and reporting are required.  Please note, if your business is currently receiving other Federal financial assistance, i.e. EIDL or PPP funding, CDBG funds may not be used to cover the same costs covered by other federal funding.

Amount of funding

$10,000 maximum per business with demonstrated costs greater than or equal to the amount requested. Program is currently funded at $500,000.


COVID-19 Business Updates

  • Governor Baker has extended the order that all "non-essential" businesses cease in-person operation until at least May 18th. These businesses are encouraged to continue operations “remotely”.
  • For the list of COVID-19 Essential Services please visit Mass.gov.   Please visit the updated FAQpage.
    • Businesses that are NOT covered under current guidance can submit an online request to be designated as essential for the purposes of the Emergency Order.
    • Please only request a designation if your business is NOT covered by the “COVID-19 Essential Services” guidance.


Unemployment Benefits


SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Update

With the additional funding provided by the new COVID-19 relief package, SBA will resume processing EIDL Loan and Advance applications that are already in the queue on a first come, first-served basis.

SBA will provide further information on the availability of the EIDL portal to receive new applications (including those from agricultural enterprises) as soon as possible.

For more information on SBA relief programs visit - https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options

Customer Service Center can be reached at: 1-800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Sign-up for the latest updates at https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/ma/boston or follow @SBA_MA.


Cape Ann Emergency Relief Fund

In partnership with the City of Gloucester and the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, and working with local municipalities, Action Inc. is launching the Cape Ann Emergency Relief Fund to allow us to help hourly workers impacted by the crisis. To support the Cape Ann Emergency Relief Fund please visit Action,Inc..  Your support will help food service, retail, hospitality, childcare and other hourly workers struggling with lost income.  

To apply for help, please visit https://actioninc.org/caerf/