New Bedford’s Mayor Jon Mitchell tests positive for COVID-19 for the second time

“I want to let everyone know that this weekend I tested positive for Covid-19.

My symptoms are mild, and I am receiving an anti-viral treatment. I am following current CDC protocols, which require five days of isolation from the onset of symptoms, and mask wearing for five days thereafter. My family and the mayor’s office staff have all tested negative.

I do not anticipate that my isolation will disrupt municipal services or compromise my ability to lead the city. I will refrain of course from making public appearances this coming week, and my scheduled in-person meetings will become zoom meetings.

I do not know exactly how I contracted the disease. The virus is still ever-present, and even if you’ve had Covid before, as I have, you can still get it again. With a new strain of the Omicron variant now reported to be taking over in the United States, we need to be alert to the possibility that more booster shots and other precautions may be in order in the not-too-distant future. At a minimum, if you haven’t received a booster shot yet, there’s no time like the present.” -Jon Mitchell.




Massachusetts man arrested for $400,000 COVID-Relief Fraud

A Stoughton man was arrested and charged today in connection with allegedly filing a fraudulent loan application in order to obtain over $400,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds.

Adley Bernadin, 44, was charged with one count of wire fraud. Bernadin was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler this morning.

According to the criminal complaint, in May 2020, Bernadin submitted a fraudulent application on behalf of a purported home health care company for a PPP loan of over $400,000. It is alleged that in the application, which he submitted through a Small Business Administration approved lender, Bernadin misrepresented information about the purported home health care company’s employees and payroll expenses and falsified a tax form in an effort to qualify the business for the PPP loan. For example, Bernadin allegedly reported that the purported home health care business had a monthly payroll of $175,200, however, records do not support this representation.

After receiving the PPP funds, Bernadin allegedly used the money to make home mortgage payments and to write checks to individuals with whom he is believed to have a personal relationship.

The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain approved expenses, through the PPP.

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and William A. Kalb, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.




Upcoming City of New Bedford COVID-19 testing sites; how to receive FREE at-home test kits

Project Beacon’s appointment-based COVID-19 testing at New Bedford Regional Airport—part of the state’s Stop the Spread program—will offer testing on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday next week.

Appointments for free COVID-19 tests can be made at beacontesting.com. Airport officials ask that people reach the site via the airport’s side entrance on Downey Street.

Contact Project Beacon by email at help@beacontesting.com; or by calling 617-741-7310.

For walk-up testing, Seven Hills Behavioral Health offers free services at former Fire Station 11 in the South End on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and at PAACA on Coggeshall St. on Wednesday.

For rapid tests, the federal government is offering free at-home test kits online, at COVIDtests.gov. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-⁠19 tests. If you test positive with a rapid test, isolate for at least five days and notify close contacts. State guidance on isolation and quarantining can be found here.

If you test negative, re-testing a day or more later is advised, particularly if you have symptoms or a known exposure to the virus.

Testing sites in New Bedford and surrounding towns can be found on the state’s Stop the Spread website, www.mass.gov/info-details/find-a-covid-19-test.

Upcoming testing locations in New Bedford include:

Sunday, March 13:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday, March 14:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Seven Hills at former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, March 15:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Seven Hills at former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, March 16:

• Seven Hills at PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 17:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Seven Hills at former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday, March 18:

• Seven Hills at former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.




Upcoming City of New Bedford COVID-19 FREE vaccine clinics, booster shots

Free, walk-up COVID-19 clinics in New Bedford offer CDC-approved booster shots, in addition to first- and second-dose vaccines and, at most locations, pediatric vaccines and boosters for teens 12-17. Bringing your vaccination card when getting a booster is helpful, if possible, but not required.

Visit vaxnb.com for updated schedules of local COVID-19 vaccination and testing locations. Upcoming vaccine locations in New Bedford include:

Friday, March 11:

• PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, w/ pediatric vaccines for children 5 – 11 years old & boosters for teens 12-17

Saturday, March 12:

• Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Monday, March 14:

• Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Friday, March 18:

• PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, w/ pediatric vaccines for children 5 – 11 years old & boosters for teens 12-17

Reminder on the importance of vaccinations:

Vaccination levels in the region remain low, and daily case rates remain high. Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 is not only about protecting yourself – it’s also about protecting your family, friends, and community. Vaccination is critically important during the winter months, when indoor gatherings can lead to super-spreader events, clusters, hospitalizations, and severe illness among people who are unvaccinated.

State Resources for Vaccine Records, Locations

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has free online services to find your personal vaccine records and local vaccination locations, including many pharmacies.

Access your vaccine records at https://myvaxrecords.mass.gov/, and find local listings at https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/.




Upcoming City of New Bedford FREE walk-upCOVID-19 Testing Sites; how to get free at-home tests

Project Beacon’s appointment-based COVID-19 testing at New Bedford Regional Airport—part of the state’s Stop the Spread program—will offer testing on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday next week.

Appointments for free COVID-19 tests can be made at beacontesting.com. Airport officials ask that people reach the site via the airport’s side entrance on Downey Street.

Contact Project Beacon by email at help@beacontesting.com; or by calling 617-741-7310.

For walk-up testing, Seven Hills Behavioral Health offers free services at former Fire Station 11 in the South End on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and at PAACA on Coggeshall St. on Wednesday.

For rapid tests, the federal government is offering free at-home test kits online, at COVIDtests.gov. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-⁠19 tests. If you test positive with a rapid test, isolate for at least five days and notify close contacts. State guidance on isolation and quarantining can be found here.

If you test negative, re-testing a day or more later is advised, particularly if you have symptoms or a known exposure to the virus.

Testing sites in New Bedford and surrounding towns can be found on the state’s Stop the Spread website, www.mass.gov/info-details/find-a-covid-19-test.

Upcoming testing locations in New Bedford include:

Sunday, March 6:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday, March 7:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Seven Hills at former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, March 8:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Seven Hills at former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, March 9:

• Seven Hills at PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 10:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Seven Hills at former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday, March 11:

• Seven Hills at former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, March 13:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.




Upcoming City of New Bedford FREE walk-up COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics, booster shots

Free, walk-up COVID-19 clinics in New Bedford offer CDC-approved booster shots, in addition to first- and second-dose vaccines and, at most locations, pediatric vaccines and boosters for teens 12-17. Bringing your vaccination card when getting a booster is helpful, if possible, but not required.

Visit vaxnb.com for updated schedules of local COVID-19 vaccination and testing locations. Upcoming vaccine locations in New Bedford include:

Friday, March 4:

• PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, w/ pediatric vaccines for children 5 – 11 years old & boosters for teens 12-17
• Immigrants’ Assistance Center (58 Crapo St.) – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, all vaccines and boosters for those 5+; walk-ins welcome

Saturday, March 5:

• Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Monday, March 7:

• Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Wednesday, March 9:

• Immigrants’ Assistance Center (58 Crapo St.) – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, all vaccines and boosters for children 5-11; walk-ins welcome

Friday, March 11:

• PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, w/ pediatric vaccines for children 5 – 11 years old & boosters for teens 12-17
• Immigrants’ Assistance Center (58 Crapo St.) – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, all vaccines and boosters for those 5+; walk-ins welcome

Reminder on the importance of vaccinations, especially during winter months: Vaccination levels in the region remain low, and daily case rates remain high. Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 is not only about protecting yourself – it’s also about protecting your family, friends, and community. Vaccination is critically important during the winter months, when indoor gatherings can lead to super-spreader events, clusters, hospitalizations, and severe illness among people who are unvaccinated.

State Resources for Vaccine Records, Locations

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has free online services to find your personal vaccine records and local vaccination locations, including many pharmacies.

Access your vaccine records at https://myvaxrecords.mass.gov/, and find local listings at https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/.




Dartmouth’s Parson’s Reserve’s Daffodil Field to once again delight locals after 2-year hiatus due to COVID

After a 2-year hiatus caused by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, a favorite natural destination is re-opening to the public. Parson’s Reserve’s Daffodil Field in Dartmouth has been delighting locals for years and is a perennial (pardon the pun) favorite spot to visit frequently while the daffodils are blooming.

Owned and managed by the Dartmouth National Resource Trust, locals flock in droves to the “off-the-beaten-path” destination to be oohed and aahed but nature’s artistry. Typically blooming in the second week of April, they can be enjoyed through early May, so there is a shot window of opportunity.

The vivid yellow colors and densely packed groupings of the flower have inspired poets, artists, and common folk for millennia. Colloquially called Daffodils, the narcissus is a Spring perennial native to southwest Europe and North Africa. In fact, they have even been prized by the Romans and ancient Egyptians medicinally and botanically as well as ornamentally.

By the 17th century, Daffodil mania swept Europe and by the 19th century, the plant had been turned into a commercial crop by the Dutch and English, who are responsible for importing the Daffodil to North America. Now the plant can be found in parks, fields, homes, and gardens all across the nation.

If you would like to experience for yourself, the flower that has inspired millions over the years, there are a few things one needs to know. There is a voluntary donation of $5 for non-members to help care for the field. Members get in for free. If you would like to become a member, you can find more info here.

Here are the rules for visiting the Daffodil Field per the DNRT’s website:

  • Stay on the defined trail at all times!
  • Do not step on the daffodils – if they are crushed, they will die.
  • Do not pick the daffodils.
  • No commercial photography, no accessories (such as freestanding lights), and no props (such as chairs and balloons) are allowed.
  • Dogs must be on leash throughout the entire Reserve and all dog waste must be removed.

______________________________________________________________________

Dartmouth Natural Resource Trust
318 Chase Rd.
Dartmouth, MA 02748
Phone: 508-991-2289

E-mail: info@dnrt.org
Website: http://dnrt.org/parsons-reserve/
Facebook: facebook.com/DNRTmain
Map: dnrt.org/pdfs/Dartmouth_Parsons-R7.pdf

________________________________________________

You can park at Russells Mills Landing, cross the street and stroll up the hill to the field. If you are unfamiliar with the specific area, just head down route 6 towards the mall and turn onto Old Westport Road at the Faunce Corner/Route 6 intersection. This road becomes Chase Road, which you will drive just short of 4 miles until you reach a stop sign. That’s Russell Mills Road. Turn right, drive 3/4 of a mile until you see Davoll’s General Store on your left. Continue straight for a few hundred more feet until you see the dirt parking lot that is Russells Mills Landing. You’re there!




Upcoming City of New Bedford COVID-19 test sites, how to get FREE at-home test kits

Project Beacon’s appointment-based COVID-19 testing at New Bedford Regional Airport—part of the state’s Stop the Spread program—begins a new schedule next week, with testing on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Appointments for free COVID-19 tests can be made at beacontesting.com. Airport officials ask that people reach the site via the airport’s side entrance on Downey Street.

Contact Project Beacon by email at help@beacontesting.com; or by calling 617-741-7310.

For walk-up testing, Seven Hills Behavioral Health offers free services at former Fire Station 11 in the South End on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and at PAACA on Coggeshall St. on Wednesday.

For rapid tests, the federal government is offering free at-home test kits online, at COVIDtests.gov. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-home COVID-⁠19 tests. If you test positive with a rapid test, isolate for at least five days and notify close contacts. State guidance on isolation and quarantining can be found here.

If you test negative, re-testing a day or more later is advised, particularly if you have symptoms or a known exposure to the virus.

Testing sites in New Bedford and surrounding towns can be found on the state’s Stop the Spread website, www.mass.gov/info-details/find-a-covid-19-test.

Upcoming testing locations in New Bedford include:

Sunday, Feb. 27:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 28:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Seven Hills at former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, March 1:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Seven Hills at former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesday, March 2:

• Seven Hills at PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 3:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Seven Hills at former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday, March 4:

• Seven Hills at former Fire Station 11 (754 Brock Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, March 6:

• Project Beacon at New Bedford Regional Airport (1569 Airport Road) – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.




Upcoming City of New Bedford COVID-19 FREE vaccine clinics, booster shots

Free, walk-up COVID-19 clinics in New Bedford offer CDC-approved booster shots, in addition to first- and second-dose vaccines and, at most locations, pediatric vaccines and boosters for teens 12-17. Please bring your vaccination card when getting a booster.

Visit vaxnb.com for updated schedules of local COVID-19 vaccination and testing locations. Upcoming vaccine locations in New Bedford include:

Friday, Feb. 25:

• PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, w/ pediatric vaccines for children 5 – 11 years old & boosters for teens 12-17

Saturday, Feb. 26:

• Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Sunday, Feb. 27:

• Doug’s House of Harmony (818 Kempton St.) – 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, vaccines and boosters for ages 5 and up; music, food, free event

Monday, Feb. 28:

• Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Wednesday, March 2:

• Immigrants’ Assistance Center (58 Crapo St.) – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, all vaccines and boosters for children 5-11; walk-ins welcome

Friday, March 4:

• PAACA (360 Coggeshall St.) – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, w/ pediatric vaccines for children 5 – 11 years old & boosters for teens 12-17

Saturday, March 5:

• Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for children 5 – 11, boosters for teens 12-17

Reminder on the importance of vaccinations, especially during winter months: Vaccination levels in the region remain low, and daily case rates remain high. Getting vaccinated for COVID-19 is not only about protecting yourself – it’s also about protecting your family, friends, and community. Vaccination is critically important during the winter months, when indoor gatherings can lead to super-spreader events, clusters, hospitalizations, and severe illness among people who are unvaccinated.

State Resources for Vaccine Records, Locations

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has free online services to find your personal vaccine records and local vaccination locations, including many pharmacies.

Access your vaccine records at https://myvaxrecords.mass.gov/, and find local listings at https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/.




Massachusetts Gov. Baker’s administration launches new $75 Million small business relief program

New program directs $50 million toward businesses reaching underserved markets, minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses, and $25 million for businesses that did not qualify for prior MGCC aid.

The Baker-Polito Administration announced the launch of a new $75 million grant program to support Massachusetts small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new program is part of the plan to spend $4 billion in American Rescue Plan funding that was signed into law by Governor Charlie Baker in December 2021. The new program is modeled after Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation’s (MGCC) successful COVID-19 small business relief program. Under that effort, which became the biggest state-sponsored business relief program in the nation, MGCC oversaw the distribution of approximately $705 million to over 15,000 small businesses across Massachusetts. Today’s announcement was made at Luanda Restaurant and Lounge in Brockton, a family-owned business that received financial support through MGCC’s prior COVID relief grant program.

“We have been proud to support small businesses in every corner of the Commonwealth through the MGCC small business program during the pandemic, but we know that some challenges remain for many businesses,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “With the launch of this new effort, we can build on MGCC’s successful work and direct important federal funding to those businesses with the greatest need quickly and effectively.”

“Restaurants like Luanda are fundamental to the character of our neighborhoods, main streets and downtowns in every city and town in Massachusetts,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “This new initiative will ensure that businesses that need help the most will be able to take advantage of additional opportunities.”

The $75 million will be focused on small businesses that employ between two and 50 people, with $25 million directed toward businesses that did not qualify for previous MGCC grants because of a lack of revenue loss in 2020; and $50 million directed to businesses that reach underserved markets and historically underrepresented groups, or are minority-, women-, or veteran-owned businesses, or are owned by individuals with disabilities or who identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Under both categories, grants will range from $10,000 to $75,000, and will be capped at the lesser of $75,000 or three months of operating expenses. Grant funding can be used for employee and benefit costs, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, and interest on debt.

“The challenges faced by Massachusetts’ small businesses during COVID have been enormous, but in my district and across the state I have seen so many entrepreneurs and innovators respond with incredible perseverance and grace. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they deserve our support,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “Today’s grants represent a choice by the Legislature to center small businesses in our effort for an equitable recovery. I am grateful to the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation for their work to distribute these funds to so many deserving businesses and I am thankful to all of the small businesses who have done so much for Massachusetts.”

“I am pleased to hear that the small business grant program, created through the Legislature’s ARPA bill, is now accepting applications, and will soon be distributing these funds to our small businesses,” said Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano. “Delivering on the Legislature’s intent to pass a bill truly focused on equity, a significant portion of the funds from the small business program will specifically target minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned small businesses, as well as small businesses that didn’t receive previous grants during the pandemic. Small businesses are oftentimes the backbone of our communities and local economies, and I look forward to seeing these investments remain a priority for the House of Representatives moving forward.”

“When help was needed the most during the pandemic, the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation scaled up a nation-leading program to support our small businesses and the families and entrepreneurs behind them,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “I’m grateful to the MGCC team for once again stepping up to direct vital funding to the neighborhoods and communities that continue to face challenges created by this unprecedented public health crisis.”

“MGCC is pleased to be an instrument of recovery for the smallest of businesses throughout Massachusetts most affected by COVID-19 with these two new grants programs,” said Lawrence Andrews, CEO and President of MGCC. “The Baker-Polito Administration and the Legislature recognize that certain communities have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and the goal of this funding will bring relief and stability to additional businesses throughout the Commonwealth.”

In addition to prioritizing applications from businesses that did not qualify for prior aid and businesses owned by individuals from historically underserved populations or operate in underserved markets, eligible businesses must currently be in operation and based in Massachusetts. Applicants must also demonstrate that business revenues for 2020 were between $40,000 and $2.5 million.

Learn more at EmpoweringSmallBusiness.org.