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FRA Reopening Grant

In response to the extreme vulnerability Fitchburg businesses have experienced since the first days of Covid-19 hitting our region, the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority (FRA) launched the Emergency Economic Development Resiliency Grant in April.  This grant program allocated grants of up to $2500 to Fitchburg businesses directly affected by the pandemic.  These grants helped many businesses stay open, pay rent or employees, or purchase Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), among other needs.

As the Commonwealth moves forward with a slow reopening, local businesses continue to struggle financially.  Therefore, the FRA is pleased to announce the launch of a second round of grant funding of up to $2500 for Fitchburg businesses affected by the pandemic.  Funding is limited but the FRA is hoping to provide relief to approximately 40 businesses that have been significantly vulnerable during this unprecedented time. The grants are available for both previous award recipients and new applicants.  

The FRA is a quasi-government agency that runs as a separate entity from the City of Fitchburg.  That said, funding comes directly from the FRA's budget and not from City or State resources. 
 
Note this is a FRA grant program, not a loan.  Therefore, the funding awarded to your business is yours.  There is no need to pay it back.  

To be considered for a grant, the business must meet the following criteria:

· The business must be in Fitchburg and impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, such as restaurants, coffee shops, bars, salons, studios, and retail.

· Business must have been in existence for at least 2 years.

· Business has to have experienced a loss of 50% or more due to COVID-19 since March 10, 2020.

· A business must have less than $2 million in gross receipts.

· The application must be complete including supporting documents

Businesses NOT considered:

· Home businesses

· A business that has existed less than two (2) years

· A business owner who has defaulted on loans, mortgages/lease, child support, etc., or is in collection for any reason.

The FRA's Reopening Grant will be reviewed and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. A review period and turn-around time for allocating awards will take approximately two (2) weeks. Grant awardees will receive an award of up to $2,500 in the form of a bank check.

Please email director@fitchburgredevelopment.com should you have any questions.

The FRA reserves the right to amend the Reopening Grant application, conditions, and award details at any time.

It is recommended you review all of the questions first, exit out, collect all of your required info, then log back on and fill out the application.  Otherwise, you may be timed out if you take a lot of time completing the application.  
1.Loan Request (You may request up to $2,500):
2.Did you apply for the first FRA grant (FRA Economic Development Resiliency Grant)?
3.Business Name:
4.Business Address:
5.Business Owner Name:
6.Tax ID/EIN or Social Security Number:
7.Business Owner Address:
8.Email Address:
9.Phone Number:
10.Number of years in business
11.Type of Business:

**For Businesses that did not apply for the FRA's Economic Development  Resiliency Grant, please answer the following questions. Otherwise, please skip to question Q28.**
12.Is the Business owner the same as property owner?
13.Property Owner:
14.Briefly describe your business:
15.Total gross receipts prior to the Governor's March 10, 2020 restrictions on retail:
16.Total gross receipts since the Governor's March 10, 2020 restrictions on retail:
17.Total loss since the Governor's March 10, 2020 restrictions on retail:
18.Business revenue since March 10th:
19.Number of employees prior to the Governor's March 10, 2020 restrictions on retail:
20.Number of employees since the Governor's March 10, 2020 restrictions on retail:
21.Does your business have Business Interruption Insurance?
22.Is the business owner defaulting on loans, mortgage/lease payments, child support, etc., or in collection due to any reason?
23.Annual business income from two (2) most recent tax returns:
24.Monthly expenses:
25.Variable Expenses:
26.Please describe the economic impacts of the pandemic on your business.
27.Have you applied to other economic assistance programs?
28.Please describe what the grant money will be used for. 
29.If your business received a FRA grant in the first round, has your business had to make even more significant changes since?
30.How was the Resiliency Grant used?
31.Was/is your business able to open in:
32.How is your business sourcing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
33.How do you plan on moving your business forward as Massachusetts continues to reopen in light of the pandemic?
34.Supporting Documents:

** If you were a recipient of the FRA's first round of grant funding, please only submit your Covid-19 Plan onto Dropbox.**

Please upload ALL of the following documents to the FRA Reopening Grant DROPBOX account here:

https://www.dropbox.com/request/BkOkVCb6KepOXp10VYTD

Please label your file with your business name and date of submission
35.Award Details:
Awards will be given on a first-come, first-served basis for those that have provided a complete application package.

Grant awards will be paid out via bill-pay
36.Certifications
The FRA reserves the right to amend the Reopening Grant application, conditions, and award details at any time. 
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