Hub sets up $6M small biz fund
Will help shuttered businesses reopen safely
The city of Boston is rolling out $6 million in grants for small businesses ready to reopen, with the cash aimed at helping owners pay for the protective equipment and other measures they’ll need to start back up.
“We heard their concerns about not being able to reopen safely,” Walsh told reporters at a press conference outside of Boston City Hall on Tuesday.
The $6 million “Reopen Boston Fund” will begin taking its first round of applications at 5 p.m. Thursday. The money is meant to go toward expenses like personal protective equipment or partitions that businesses need as they look to follow the state and local guidelines on social distancing and safety as they start back up.
The mayor said these grants will roll out in three rounds, corresponding to the various phases of Gov. Charlie Baker’s reopening plan, which has led to some businesses starting to open their doors last week and this week, with more expecting to begin operations in the future — assuming the indicators around the spread of the virus continue to trend in the right direction.
“When our small businesses are ready and able to open, we want our business owners and workers to have access to the appropriate resources to stay safe,” Walsh said. “These additional grants will help level the playing field for Boston’s small businesses and support both our public health and economic equity priorities.”
The funding is aimed at Boston businesses with fewer than 15 employees — and a majority of employees having to work in close proximity, like at a store, restaurant or hair salon. Most of a different $7.5 million Boston fund for small businesses has gone to helping similarly sized businesses pay the bills as COVID-19 has ravaged the economy.
Walsh said the original discussion centered around buying partitions between chairs at barber shops or hair salons, but quickly expanded to grants that can be used for that or for other needs a range of small businesses might have.
Each grant awarded would be for up to $2,000. Businesses looking to apply can do so at boston.gov/reopen-fund.
Also at the press conference, Walsh echoed Baker’s comments earlier in the day that the Boston Hope Medical Center would begin to phase out, accepting no more patients for the time being. The medical center, which was set up in less than a week in the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in the Seaport, had 1,000 beds for the homeless and for overflow patients from the hospitals.
Walsh proclaimed the effort as “a great Boston story,” and said it will stand ready in the event of a second surge.
Walsh said only 10 more people had tested positive on Tuesday as compared to Monday, bringing the total to 12,521 cases in the city. Four more people died, for a total of 622 deaths among Bostonians. Walsh said 6,019 city residents have fully recovered.