2022 Fitchburg COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Loan Program

The City of Fitchburg is providing a final round of emergency relief for small businesses that were APPROVED for the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loans, (EIDL), or the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, (RRF), Program but later were informed that the funds were not available due to no fault of the applicant.

This program is funded through the Community Development Block Grant CARES ACT Program. Certain eligibility criteria must be met in order to be eligible for this funding source.

Applications must be submitted by Friday June 10th at 2PM.

Assistance with the application:
If you have questions or concerns, or otherwise need assistance to complete the application, please contact Liz Murphy at Lmurphy@fitchburgma.gov or 978-829-1897.

Eligibility:

Must be a Fitchburg business impacted by COVID-19 and/or the public health and safety measures, including, but not limited to: restaurants, coffee shops, bars, entertainment venues, retail, salons, barber shops.
Must be a business in operation prior to March 1, 2020.
Must be a for-profit business.
Must have documentable business income loss related to the pandemic or associated public health measures related to the pandemic.
Must not have another source of funding assistance to pay for expenses submitted in this application. (this would be a duplication of benefits and is prohibited)
Must have BUSINESS mortgage/lease obligations.

Eligibility Continued'

Must meet CDBG requirements by qualifying as either:
A business creating or retaining jobs
This means a business with any number of employees greater than zero, (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)within a reasonable period when normal business resumes. Qualifying employees must have household incomes below 80% of AMI and/or new jobs must be made available to households below 80% of AMI. (see the income limits under microenterprise).
OR
A microenterprise business
This means 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.

80% Area Median Income limits are as follows:

1 Person HouseHold	2 Person HH	3 Person HH	4 Person HH	5 Person HH	6 Person HH	7 Person HH	8 Person HH
$50,200	$57,400	$64,550	$71,700	$77,450	$83,200	$88,950	$94,650

The City of Fitchburg will give preference to:

Businesses that have applied for and been approved for the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program or Restaurant Revitalization Fund Program, but were later advised that they will not receive funds through no fault of their own.
Businesses who are unable to continue operating under their prior business model because of the pandemic and have a plan for adapting to the current economic environment.
Businesses with an existing loan with the City of Fitchburg’s small business program.
Businesses that are contemplating closing due to losses.
Businesses with a physical commercial location. (not home based).
Businesses with high fixed expenses.

Assistance is in the form of a loan. Loans may be forgiven at the completion of proposed adaptations.

The following industries are ineligible for funding:

Real Estate
Multi-Level Marketing
Adult Entertainment
Cannabis
Firearms
Social Clubs

Business Owner Information

Question Title

* 1. Business Owner Contact Information

Business Name

Owner Name

Owner's Home Address

Address 2

City/Town

State/Province

ZIP/Postal Code

Email Address

Cell Phone Number

Question Title

* 2. As business owner, do you also work in the business?

Yes

Question Title

* 3. Is this business income your only source of income?

Yes

Question Title

* 4. Please explain other sources of income.

Business Information

Question Title

* 5. Type of Business

Question Title

* 6. Your business must have a Business Certificate/DBA, or be registered with the secretary of state as a Corporation, Limited Liability Company, or Limited Liability Partnership, Cooperative. Please check your designation.

City Business Certificate/DBA

Corporation

Limited Liability Partnership

Limited Liability Corporation

Cooperative

None of the Above

Question Title

* 7. Business Location

Business Address

Address 2

City/Town

State/Province

ZIP/Postal Code

Phone Number

Property Owner- if property is not owned by business

Question Title

* 8. Contact Information

Property Owner Name

Address

Address 2

City/Town

State/Province

ZIP/Postal Code

Funding Criteria

Question Title

* 9. There are two categories of business that qualify for this assistance. Your business can either be a:
-Microenterprise, where your household income is at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), you work at the business, and have no more than 4 additional employees or;
- You will use these funds to either retain employees who have household incomes at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) or you will create jobs available to employees with household incomes at or below 80% of AMI when business normalizes.

Do you qualify as a Microenterprise business or for Job Retention/Creation.

80% Area Median Income limits are as follows:

People in Household 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

80% Area Median Income $50,200 $57,400 $64,550 $71,700 $77,450 $83,200 $88,950 $94,650

Microenterprise

Job Retention/Job Creation

I do not qualify as either.

Question Title

* 10. Using the chart from question 9., are you a low- or moderate-income business owner?
(Moderate Income is defined as a household income of less than or equal to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), based on the number of persons in the household.

Yes

Question Title

* 11. What was your business annual income from your 2021 tax return? We understand it may be very different than this year.

Question Title

* 12. What is your current household annual income? Please include income from all members of the household.

Question Title

* 13. How many people live in your household? Household income questions help us determine if you qualify as a "microenterprise."

Question Title

* 14. Are you a citizen or otherwise legally residing in the county ? Please note documentation will be required.

Yes

Question Title

* 15. Prior to the COVID-19 restrictions, how many people did your business employ (including yourself)?

Question Title

* 16. How many employees were full-time?

Question Title

* 17. How many employees were part time?

Question Title

* 18. How many full time staff do you currently employ, as of today?

Question Title

* 19. How many part time staff do you currently employ, as of today?

Question Title

* 20. What are the average hours per week for part time employees, as of now?

Question Title

* 21. How many employees have the following benefits:

Sick Time

Vacation Time

Employer-Provided Health Insurance

Question Title

* 22. Have you had to lay off any employees during the pandemic?

Yes

If so, how many?

Question Title

* 23. Do you anticipate future layoffs?

Yes

If yes, will you rehire employees after the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted?

Monthly Expenses

Question Title

* 24. Please list your current bills/debts for the business, (not your personal debts)

item 1 description

item 1 amount

item 2 description

item 2 amount

item 3 description

item 3 amount

item 4 description

item 4 amount

item 5 description

item 5 amount

item 6 description

item 6 amount

item 7 description

item 7 amount

Question Title

* 25. What was your monthly gross revenue, on average, before this crisis?

Estimated Adverse Impact

Question Title

* 26. What is your monthly gross revenue, on average, now?

Question Title

* 27. Please provide a brief explanation of what adverse economic impacts COVID-19 has had on your business:

Question Title

* 28. Please provide a brief explanation of your approvals of other grant/loan assistance that was awarded/promised to you but later rescinded and why.

Question Title

* 29. Grant Request - please list your total grant need with description.

amount

description of amount

Question Title

* 30. Please provide a description how you plan to adapt your business to thrive in potential future waves of pandemic resurgence and related public safety measures.

Question Title

* 31. Have you received other business assistance funding (including grants and loans) for your current unpaid obligations? If yes, please explain

Question Title

* 32. Have you applied for any other forms of assistance that is pending approval/denial or approved but funds have not been received by you ? Please explain.

Question Title

* 33. Once you submit this information, the City will email you to request the following documents:

Written documentation of your approval and later (no fault) denial of the SBA's EIDL or RRP Program

Most recent business tax returns

Household income documentation for owner if owner qualifies as a microenterprise business- we can help you determine this.

Business bank statement for the last two months.

Documentation of your citizenship status.

Profit and Loss statement for the last two quarters.

Written plan explaining how you will adapt your business to be successful in the current pandemic related environment and how this adaptation will help the business.

Completed forms sent by the City of Fitchburg

Question Title

* 34. Please use this field to tell us anything else about your business situation that might be pertinent to your application.

Question Title

* 35. Certifications

I certify the information here is true and accurate under pains and penalties of perjury

I understand that I must provide a copy of my most recent tax return upon request by the City of Fitchburg.

I have copies of my approval and subsequent denial from the Economic Injury Disaster Grant program and/or the Restaurant Revitalization Fund program and will provide them upon request.

I certify that I am a citizen or otherwise in this country legally and will provide documentation of this.

I understand I may be required to provide income documentation, and other documents in order to qualify for the assistance. I understand this request will be made via email.

Name and Date

People in Household	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
80% Area Median Income	$50,200	$57,400	$64,550	$71,700	$77,450	$83,200	$88,950	$94,650

2022 Fitchburg COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Loan Program

Question Title

* 1. Business Owner Contact Information

Question Title

* 2. As business owner, do you also work in the business?

Question Title

* 3. Is this business income your only source of income?

Question Title

* 4. Please explain other sources of income.

Question Title

* 5. Type of Business

Question Title

* 6. Your business must have a Business Certificate/DBA, or be registered with the secretary of state as a Corporation, Limited Liability Company, or Limited Liability Partnership, Cooperative. Please check your designation.

Question Title

* 7. Business Location

Question Title

* 8. Contact Information

Question Title

Question Title

* 10. Using the chart from question 9., are you a low- or moderate-income business owner? (Moderate Income is defined as a household income of less than or equal to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), based on the number of persons in the household.

Question Title

* 11. What was your business annual income from your 2021 tax return? We understand it may be very different than this year.

Question Title

* 12. What is your current household annual income? Please include income from all members of the household.

Question Title

* 13. How many people live in your household? Household income questions help us determine if you qualify as a "microenterprise."

Question Title

* 14. Are you a citizen or otherwise legally residing in the county ? Please note documentation will be required.

Question Title

* 15. Prior to the COVID-19 restrictions, how many people did your business employ (including yourself)?

Question Title

* 16. How many employees were full-time?

Question Title

* 17. How many employees were part time?

Question Title

* 18. How many full time staff do you currently employ, as of today?

Question Title

* 19. How many part time staff do you currently employ, as of today?

Question Title

* 20. What are the average hours per week for part time employees, as of now?

Question Title

* 21. How many employees have the following benefits:

Question Title

* 22. Have you had to lay off any employees during the pandemic?

Question Title

* 23. Do you anticipate future layoffs?

Question Title

* 24. Please list your current bills/debts for the business, (not your personal debts)

Question Title

* 25. What was your monthly gross revenue, on average, before this crisis?

Question Title

* 26. What is your monthly gross revenue, on average, now?

Question Title

* 27. Please provide a brief explanation of what adverse economic impacts COVID-19 has had on your business:

Question Title

* 28. Please provide a brief explanation of your approvals of other grant/loan assistance that was awarded/promised to you but later rescinded and why.

Question Title

* 29. Grant Request - please list your total grant need with description.

Question Title

* 30. Please provide a description how you plan to adapt your business to thrive in potential future waves of pandemic resurgence and related public safety measures.

Question Title

* 31. Have you received other business assistance funding (including grants and loans) for your current unpaid obligations? If yes, please explain

Question Title

* 32. Have you applied for any other forms of assistance that is pending approval/denial or approved but funds have not been received by you ? Please explain.

Question Title

* 33. Once you submit this information, the City will email you to request the following documents:

Question Title

* 34. Please use this field to tell us anything else about your business situation that might be pertinent to your application.

Question Title

* 35. Certifications

* 10. Using the chart from question 9., are you a low- or moderate-income business owner?
(Moderate Income is defined as a household income of less than or equal to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), based on the number of persons in the household.