Small Business Operations Grant

If you are applying online via your Apple phone, please use a different web browser than Safari. It doesn’t work well with our application form.

If the web browser is not the issue, please make sure you have attached invoices and put an answer down for every required question, including the drop-down menu questions, like number of employees.

If you continue to have issues, please call us at 617-349-7223 to schedule a time for staff to call you and help fill out the application with you. We can also provide you with a paper/PDF version of the application.

Yes. You will receive a 1099-G Form from the city.

If you are a new small business in Cambridge and are not a franchise, you could be eligible if you can show that the pandemic delayed or negatively impacted the opening of your business.

Grant funds will be awarded and distributed after the February 16, 2024 deadline. Once a business receives an award notification, it can take up to 4-6 weeks for a grantee to receive funds. Funds will be delayed if program staff do not receive the correct required documents and contract documentation from the business owner.

Business owners can email smallbizgrants@cambridgema.gov for any questions regarding their grant or grant application. Business owners may receive an email before the grant deadline if we are missing anything we need to review their application.

You can provide us this documentation in three ways:

1. Send items back via email to smallbizgrants@cambridgema.gov
2. You may provide photos of your invoices, etc. As long as the photo(s) is clear and your Cambridge business address can be seen.
3. If you would like to drop off these items to the office, you can do so two ways:

You can either drop off copies to the white mailbox outside Cambridge City Hall Annex (344 Broadway) in an envelope addressed to Tyrone Fells, OR

Send copies of the documents to: 

Cambridge Community Development Department

Attention: Economic Opportunity and Development – Operations Grant

344 Broadway, Floor 3

Cambridge, MA 02139

Please make sure to send us or drop off your documents by 12:00 p.m. February 16, 2024.

Yes, but only if this grant is being used for approved expenses and you have not used previous funds received for the same specific expense. For example, if you received the Small Business Relief Grant and used it to pay for June 2022 rent, you can not apply for this grant and use it to cover June 2022 rent again. But, you could apply for a grant to cover a different month’s rent expense.

You also must make sure that you have completed all the requirements of the Restaurant-Nightlife Relief Grant and the Small Business Relief Grant prior to applying for this new grant. 

No, this grant is for reimbursement of eligible expenses purchased or paid for before or by April 30, 2024 only.

No, you must have a business located in Cambridge, MA to be eligible. 

Cambridge non-profits may apply, but non-profits that received a recent non-profit relief grant may not be eligible for this grant. 

No, this grant is only for businesses expenses. 

• Cambridge residents with businesses located outside the City of Cambridge.
• Cambridge businesses that started after April 2021. 
• Cambridge businesses that have outstanding invoices/fees/taxes to the City of Cambridge or the federal government.
• Cambridge businesses who are not prepared to provide 2019 and 2021 sales or tax data. (Businesses not open in 2019 must be able to provide a statement detailing how COVID-19 impacted the opening of their business.)
• Applicants who are not in compliance with any federal, state or local laws or regulations, including those pertaining to zoning and licensing.
• Cannabis businesses. Although cannabis businesses are permitted in the City of Cambridge, the use and possession of cannabis is illegal under federal law for any purpose. As this is a federally-funded program, cannabis businesses are not eligible for the program.
• Cambridge businesses who have not completed the requirements of the Restaurant and Small Business Relief Grants.

No. All documents must be provided before the final deadline of February 16, 2024 to be considered for a grant. 

Brick and Mortar Businesses

Brick and mortar businesses, could receive a grant up to $15,000 to reimburse small businesses for the following expenses from March 3, 2021 until April 30, 2024:

• Commercial rent/mortgage 
• Employee wages/payroll
• New equipment
• Inventory expenses
• Marketing expenses
• Delivery expenses
• Other businesses relating to operating expenses not included above

Home Based Businesses

Home based businesses could receive a grant up to $7,500 to reimburse small businesses for the following expenses from March 3, 2021 until April 30, 2024.

• Equipment
• Marketing expenses
• Owner/employee payroll
• Inventory expenses
• Other business operating expenses not included above

No. These funds may only be used for approved expenses incurred between March 3, 2021 - April 30, 2024.

Yes. Please contact staff at smallbizgrants@cambridgema.gov or leave a message at 617-349-7223 and someone will get back to you about scheduling an appointment. Interpretation and translation services can be made available.