Small Business Grant Program Funded by the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund and the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority

Please see guidelines for eligibility HERE.

1. A chain business that is not locally franchised.
2. Businesses and owners/operators whose businesses have delinquent invoices due to the City of Cambridge other than FY2020.
3. Restaurants that have an outstanding health code violation issued against them by the City of Cambridge.
4. Cambridge residents with businesses located outside the City of Cambridge.
5. Non-profit organizations.
6. Applicants who are not in compliance with any federal, state or local laws or regulations, including those pertaining to zoning and licensing.

No.

Allowable business expenses may include:

• personal protective equipment
• average rent
• salaries
• utilities
• cost of goods
• and outdoor dining infrastructure, including tables, chairs, and patio barriers, not covered by other programs.

No, your grant must only be used for business purposes such as payroll, rent, personal protective equipment, outdoor dining infrastructure, or other business expenses.

Yes, provided that your salary is for hours worked in the small business as typically paid during normal operations.

No. An MDRF grant does not need to be repaid.

Friday, May 7, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EDT

Applications will be reviewed after May 7, 2021. Applications will be ranked on the basis of the points awarded according to the scoring process (described in the next FAQ).

Points will be awarded for each item achieved below.

Funding Priorities & Policies (20 Points for Each Item Achieved):

1. Small businesses who have not received any funding from other COVID-19 relief programs, including the City’s Small Business Relief, Recovery, and Winter grant, the CRA’s Small Business Grant program, the CRA’s Loan program, State’s MGCC program and the SBA EIDL or PPP programs.
2. Small businesses who make or have (and retain) employees who make less than $75,000.
3. The grant and will promote small business activity owned by one of the following -Cambridge resident, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), Women (WBE), Service-Disabled Veteran (SDVOBE), Veteran (VBE), Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender (LGBTQ) and Disabled-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) (status in these categories must be documented with evidence of proper certification).

Business Operation Considerations (5 Points for Each Item Achieved)

1. Small businesses that had 2019 gross operating revenues of less than $1,000,000.
2. Small businesses that have been in operation for at least three years.
3. Small businesses that have brick and mortar retail, restaurant or personal service operations.
4. Small businesses that employ at least one Cambridge resident.
5. Small businesses employing disabled veterans.

If there is a tie between applicants, the following criteria may also be considered:

(a) how funds would be used by the business

(b) how many full-time employees were employed prior to the COVID-1- Pandemic; and (c) how many full-time employees are currently employed.

Please Note:

Applicants who previously received funds from Federal, State or local sources, including the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority’s grant or loan programs will receive lower ranking than those who have received no funding. This includes funds previously received for Payroll, Rent, Utilities, Outdoor dining infrastructure (seating, patio heaters, tables, etc.), and Personal Protective Equipment.

No. Regardless of the application status, due to the volume of applications received, there is no guarantee that an applicant will receive a grant nor receive the maximum possible amount of grant funds.

• If your business has been open for two years or more - The last two (2) years of your tax returns or the schedule C of your personal tax returns.
• If your business has been open for less than two years –
  • The last two (2) years of your personal tax returns
  • A copy of your Cambridge Business Certificate or State Articles of Incorporation

No. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

• All grant applications will be reviewed after the May 7, 2021 application deadline.
• You will receive an automatic email when you submit your application.
• By the end of May, you will receive another email letting you know whether or not your application was successful and if you will receive a grant. Grant funds will be distributed after that.

The maximum grant award will be $6,000.00.

No, your business does not need to be currently operating but the grant should help in getting your business open immediately or as soon as legally permissible to do so.

Yes, provided that the grant will be used for other allowable business expenses. The funds cannot be used to pay the same business expenses. In addition, preference will be given to businesses that have not previously received funding.

No, you need to have at least one employee or yourself make less than $75,000 in 2019 to answer yes to the question.

No, you do not need to have at least one employee or yourself to be a Cambridge resident.

You can contact City staff by phone or by email:

• Phone: 617‑349‑9775 (Interpretation services are available upon request.)
• Email: MDRFGrantBusiness@cambridgema.gov