Hilltown small business grant applications being accepted

July 8, 2020 | Amy Porter
amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com

HILLTOWNS – The Hilltown Community Development Corporation is establishing a Micro-Enterprise Relief Program to help businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now accepting applications.  Small businesses in the towns of Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield, and Montgomery are eligible for the CARES Act funds.

The program is designed to assist businesses with five or fewer employees – including the owner – that have been negatively impacted due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will provide one-time grants for business owners who need financial assistance to support business operational costs in order to keep the business sustainable. Grant funds must be used within two months of award.

Grant amounts will range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000 to cover business losses incurred after May 26.

Eligible expenses include operating costs of rent, mortgage, utilities, business insurance premiums, inventory, personal protection equipment, and payment for professional services.  

Not allowed are payment of outstanding debt incurred prior to COVID-19, salaries, vehicle purchase or lease, and payment of existing tax liens.

Hilltown CDC Economic Development Director Michele Kenney explained that this is the first opportunity that they’ve had to offer CARES Act funding to businesses in the Hilltowns. The first round went to entitlement communities, such as Westfield, Holyoke and Springfield.

“I feel that it is good timing for businesses that might have to add an outdoor venue, increase their PPE, whatever they need to do to step up and meet all the requirements to reopen. This grant will help with that,” Kenney said.

"We heard loud and clear from businesses, `we need cash grants.’ I’m really happy that this came through and we’re able to offer it to hilltown businesses,” Kenney added.

To be eligible, businesses must have been in business as of Jan. 1, 2019; have five or fewer employees – including owner; have been temporarily closed or reduced hours due to COVID-19; and the business owner’s family income falls within income guidelines ­– if more than one owner, each owners family income must be below 80 percent AMI. See the application for income limits.

Ineligible businesses include not-for-profit; if they have received emergency funding through another source for the same purposes.  Ineligible business also include real estate rentals/sales, ownership by a person under age 18, businesses that are chains, liquor stores, weapons/firearms dealers, lobbyists or cannabis related businesses.

Applications are available on the Hilltown CDC website at hilltowncdc.org. Funding will be awarded based on a first come, first eligible, completed application basis, subject to the availability of funding.  

Questions and completed applications may be emailed, along with required documentation, to Bea von Hagke at beavh@hilltowncdc.org. Applications may also be submitted by mail to Hilltown CDC, PO Box 17, Chesterfield, MA 01012.

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