Pioneer Valley Planning Commission has been awarded federal funds through the CARES Act to support local small businesses hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Valley Community Development Corporation will act as Program Administrator for the application and selection process to award one-time grants up to $10,000 for businesses located in Agawam, Easthampton, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, South Hadley, Southampton, Southwick or Westhampton.
Registration Instructions In English
PDF of Application Questions - Updated October 31st
NEED HELP ON YOUR APPLICATION?
- View recorded webinar here.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) can be found here. If you have questions, send them to grants@valleycdc.com and check back on the FAQ page for answers.
These links will put you in touch with FREE local assistance to help your prepare your application:
- The Center for Women & Enterprise: Info.CentralMA@CWEonline.org
- SCORE
- Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants must be able to provide supporting documents to show eligibility in all four of the following categories:
- “Micro-enterprise” businesses (5 or fewer employees including owner) that were established prior to the pandemic (business must have been operating prior to January 1, 2019).
- Applicant must be able to show records that support a loss of income due to Covid-19.
- Grant funds must be used to pay for or reimburse expenses in the following categories:
- Working Capital – Business operating expenses such as rent, utilities and staffing.
- Technology and Online Marketing or Sales Services – Software purchases or upgrades, website design, app development, transitioning to e-commerce, online ordering and payment systems and the training that comes with new technology.
- Safety Equipment and Products – Extra costs for PPE, cleaning supplies, safety or other procedures to remain open and provide a healthy and safe atmosphere for employees and customers. Implementation, monitoring and maintenance of same.
- Costs for Adapting to Operations During Pandemic – Examples might be new materials, supplies or inventory related to packaging or handling merchandise, reconfiguration of space to accommodate curbside pick-up, delivery options added, etc.
- Business Advising and Support – Expenses related to modifying existing business model. This might include capacity building, accounting support, business planning, financial education or training to gain other necessary business skills
- The total combined family income of the business owner(s) must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income shown below:
Please note there is also an Equal Opportunity Set-aside for business owners who are of racial/ethnic minority, women, veterans, persons with a disability, or LBGTQ.
Grants will be awarded on a basis of first-come, first-served, first-completed and determined eligible for each funding pool.
TIMELINE
The online application portal will launch at NOON on November 2, 2020 here.
APPLICATION MATERIALS AND LINKS
- Application Form: Regional Small Business Grant Application Updated October 31
- COVID IMPACT STATEMENT: 2019-2020 Profit & Loss Comparison Template: Excel PDF
- Duplication of Benefits Form: Duplication of Benefits Certification for CDBG-CV
- Certification of Minority Owned Business for Equal Opportunity Set Aside PDF
!! APPLICATION PORTAL OPENS
ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd at NOON !!
Sign up for email updates and application materials here
Regional Program Criteria Grid
Funding made available through the Federal CARES Act with Community Development Block Grant funding (CDBG-CV) as awarded to the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
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OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Two new STATEWIDE programs were released on October 22nd:
NOTE: You can apply for Valley’s Program and these programs simultaneously, but you cannot receive grants for the same use of funds for the same time period. (See “Duplication of Benefits” in the FAQ)