City of Fitchburg Emergency Small Business Grant Program
The City of Fitchburg has developed an emergency relief package for small businesses in jeopardy as a result of COVID-19 public safety measures.
This program is funded through the Community Development Block Grant Program. Certain eligibility criteria must be met in order to be eligible for this funding source.
Eligibility: Must be a Fitchburg business impacted by the COVID-19 public health and safety measures, including, but not limited to: restaurants, coffee shops, bars, entertainment, retail, salons, barber shops. Must be a for-profit business. Must have documentable business income loss, including business income comparisons and narrative description of impacts. Must have BUSINESS mortgage/lease obligations. Must meet CDBG requirements by qualifying as either: A microenterprise business- meaning a business with five employees or less including the owner AND owner must earn a household annual income of equal to or less than 80% of the area median income. A small business having any number of employees where at least one, job is either retained by a low-moderate income employee, or created (in this case re-created) and available to low-moderate income persons. 80% Area Median Income limits are as follows:
1 person HouseHold= $49,700 2 Person HH=$56,800 3 Person HH=$63,900 4 Person HH=$70,950 5 Person HH= $76,650 6 Person HH =$82,350 7 Person HH =$88,000 8 Person HH=$93,700
A business with at least one employee (not including the business owner) where the employee(s) are in jeopardy of losing their job due to COVID-19 AND the business commits to either, retaining the employee(s) because of assistance or hires employee(s) back within a reasonable period when normal business resumes.
The City of Fitchburg will give preference to:
· Businesses who have or will imminently have to lay off employees
· Businesses with an existing loan with the City of Fitchburg’s small business program.
· Businesses that involve assembly or personal contact my nature.
. Businesses with a separate location (not home based).
. Businesses that have applied for other local, state or federal assistance.
. Businesses with high fixed expenses.
Assistance is in the form of a grant. Grant will require repayment only if terms of grant agreement are not met.