麻州府宣佈6億6800萬元紓困方案 小企業最高可得7萬5000元

麻州長Charlie Baker表示不論聯邦政府的紓困方案結果如何，麻州
都將發放新一輪補助。(周菊子攝)

               (Boston Orange周菊子整理報導)麻州政府今(23)日推出6億6800萬元紓困方案，預定下週開始發放，以幫助小企業渡過新冠病毒(COVID-19)大流行難關。這方案有一部分經費要仰賴國會最近通過的聯邦政府紓困方案。

                  麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)表示，無論聯邦層級的紓困方案有什麼樣的發展，麻州政府都會從下週開始發放新一輪經費給州內的餐館，零售商，以及其他的小企業。

                   麻州政府在本周稍早時宣佈，將經由麻州成長資本(Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation)發放4900萬元，支持1158家小企業。爭取申請這經費的小企業，多達1萬零700家。

麻州副州長Karyn Polito說明補助細節。(周菊子攝)

             小企業補助款是在今年秋季時設定的，目前有一批符合資格的申請者還未領到經費，麻州政府在撥發新一輪額外補助時，將以這些人為優先發放對象，估計需款共約三億到三億五千萬元。這些已經申請，但還未領到補助者不需要再次申請。

            這一項目將以受病毒大流行打擊最嚴重的企業為對象。

             有資格申請新方案補助經費的企業包括餐館，酒吧，餐飲業，室內娛樂場所，健身房，體育館，支持活動的專業人士(攝影師，錄影師等)，個人服務業，零售業。

麻州住宅及經濟發展卿Mike Kennealy說明今秋已申請，還未領到
款項者有優先權。(周菊子攝)

             新的企業紓困方案將提共高達7萬5000元補助，但不超過3個月的營運開銷額，需用於員工薪資，福利開支，與空間有關的開支，以及有義務償還的債務等。

             12月31日的週四開始，麻州政府將開通網上申請，截止日期為1月15日。經費發放名單估計會在二月初宣佈。

            查詢資格要求，申請辦法，可上網 www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org.。(更新版)
          

Baker-Polito Administration Announces $668 Million Small Business Relief Package

Additional businesses will be awarded as soon as next week through the Mass Growth Capital Corporation

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration launched a $668 million program to provide financial assistance to Massachusetts small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program in part relies on the pending federal COVID-19 relief bill recently passed by Congress. Regardless of the developments at the federal level, the Baker-Polito Administration will start releasing millions in new funding to restaurants, retailers, and other small businesses throughout the Commonwealth as soon as next week.    

Earlier this week, the Administration announced nearly $49 million in grants through the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) COVID-19 Small Business Program to support over 1,158 small businesses. More than 10,000 applicants had sought relief in this grant round.

Additional grants will be made available to eligible small businesses through MGCC. The Small Business Grant Program was established in the fall, and currently has a pool of eligible applicants awaiting funding. This additional funding will allow the Administration to award more of those pending applicants. Eligible businesses that already applied to the program, but were not funded due to limited funds available, will be prioritized for funding first and do not need to reapply.

The funds will also be used to stand up an additional grant program at MGCC. This program will target the industries most hard-hit during the pandemic.

Eligible industries for the new program include:

• Restaurants, bars, caterers

• Indoor recreation and entertainment establishments

• Gyms and fitness centers

• Event-support professionals (photographers, videographers, etc.)

• Personal services

• Retail

The new business relief program would offer grants up to $75,000, but not more than three months’ operating expenses, to be used for employee wage and benefits costs, space-related costs, and debt service obligations.

The online application portal for the new program will open on Thursday, December 31, and will close on Friday, January 15. Awards are expected to be announced in early February.

More details on how to apply and eligibility requirements are available at www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org.