Mayor's Disaster Relief Fund Now Accepting Applications
Applications can be submitted online or by phone. Messages may be left in English or in separate voicemail boxes in Amharic, Arabic, Bangla, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Spanish and a City staff person will return calls to applicants to assist in completing the application by phone.
Baker-Polito Administration Announces Plans for Continued Reopening
The Baker-Polito Administration announced that Massachusetts will reopen some outdoor Phase 4, Step 2 industries effective May 10th and put plans in place for further reopening on May 29th and August 1st. The Administration continues to take steps to reopen the Commonwealth's economy with public health metrics continuing to trend in a positive direction. This includes drops in average daily COVID cases and hospitalizations. Massachusetts remains first in the nation for first vaccine doses and total doses administered per capita, among states with more than 5 million people. The Administration will also relax the Face Coverings Order for some outdoor settings, effective April 30th.
Cambridge Announces New Small Business Relief Grant Program
The City of Cambridge announced the next round of small business relief grants today which will award over $2,000,000 to eligible Cambridge businesses. Earlier this year, the City offered grants to restaurants and night life venues and this grant program is open to businesses across multiple sectors.
City of Cambridge Announces Winning Projects for 11th Participatory Budgeting Cycle
Seven projects in total were selected after a record number of ideas were submitted and more than 10,000 Cambridge residents age 12 and older voted how to spend $1 million on capital and operating projects to improve the community. In order of ranked votes, the following seven projects won $1,060,000 in fiscal year 2026 funding:
1. Improve Parks with Shade Structures and Seating ($250,000)
2. Build a Pollinator Garden in a City Park ($75,000)
3. Funding for High School Clubs ($150,000)
4. Slower Speeds for Safer Streets ($250,000)
5. Mobile Center for Hard-to-Recycle Items ($75,000)
6. Welcome Baby Boxes for New Parents ($60,000)
7. Electric Vehicle Chargers ($200,000)
College Success Initiative Celebrates 10 Years
The College Success Initiative (CSI) celebrated 10 years in 2024, having supported over 360 Cambridge residents in pursuing higher education. Designed to assist historically underrepresented students, including immigrants, first-generation college-goers, and low-income individuals, CSI provides personalized support through dedicated College Success Coaches. The program helps students from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, the Community Learning Center, and Just-A-Start’s YouthBuild program complete associate or bachelor’s degrees within six years.
Boosting Business Blocks Grant
The Boosting Business Blocks Grant offers Cambridge businesses, business associations, and groups of neighborhood businesses the opportunity to secure one-time grant funding for well-designed projects that bring together neighborhood business interests around shared goals of improved design, promotion, and business resilience in a commercial area.