EASTHAMPTON – The city of Easthampton recently announced it would offer a discount on licensing renewal fees to help local businesses cope with the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Licensing Clerk Lindsi Mailer sent a letter to licensees on behalf of the city’s local licencing authority (LLA) informing them of the opportunity to apply for a fee reduction of up to 50 percent for fiscal year 2021. Eligible renewal fees include entertainment and amusement.

The letter was also posted on the city’s official Facebook page.

“The LLA recognizes that the COVID pandemic has changed how businesses operate as they try to find new ways to not just survive during this difficult economic time but to grow and thrive,” Mailer wrote.

Establishments seeking a reduction in their license renewal fees must fill out an application that includes an explanation of its hardships. Completed applications must be returned to the licensing clerk by Oct. 1; late applications will not be accepted.

The application can be found at https://easthamptonma.gov/forms-documents/licensing.htm.

After the deadline, the LLA?will review the applications and render their decisions “based on hardship explanation and documentation.”