CHICOPEE – The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce is encouraging Chicopee-based small businesses to reach out to them for grant assistance. There are a series of grants available right now through the Mass Growth Capital Corporation (MCGG) with an application deadline of Nov. 12.

According to the MCGG’s website,  “Grant funding is intended to help businesses adversely impacted by the pandemic. Preference will be given to small businesses whose owners are women, minorities, veterans, members of other underrepresented groups, who are focused on serving the Gateway Cities of Massachusetts, and those most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The MCGG is offering grants to businesses with five or fewer employees and also businesses with 50 or fewer employees.

Julie Copoulos, executive director at the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, is encouraging small businesses to reach out to her for assistance in learning more about the grants and applying to them. The grants from the MCGG are the first round of grants the Chamber is working with right now, but they are hopeful that more grants will be given out in the future.  The Chamber will be offering free support with any other grants and state and federal funding available to small businesses through the end of March 2021.

“We are hopeful that the state and federal government will have other grant resources available over the next five months, so we’re kind of just trying to create these relations for people so that if they have a question they can turn to us,” said Copoulos.

The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce is hoping to help as many small businesses in Chicopee as possible. If you or someone you know would like assistance in learning more about these grants and their application process, you can reach out to Copoulos at 594-2101 or visit their website at  https://www.chicopeechamber.org/.