Sector-Specific Relief Grant Program for Massachusetts Businesses

AMOUNT OF FUNDING:

Businesses can receive up to $75,000 but capped at up to 3 months of operating expenses, as evidenced by 2019 Federal Tax Returns. Grant amounts will be considered for actual expenses for 2020 during the pandemic. Expenses can be considered since March 10, 2020, given that it does not exceed 3 months of operating expenses evidenced by 2019 Federal Tax Returns.

APPROVED USE OF FUNDS:

Employee payroll and benefit costs, mortgage interest, rent, utilities and interest on other debt obligations.

• Business’s proposed uses of the funds granted in response to this application will be used only to cover those costs that are eligible expenses under section 601 of the Social Security Act, as added by section 5001 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Pub. L. No. 116-136, div. A, Title V (Mar. 27, 2020) (“section 601”).

• Business will not apply the funds granted in response to this application to any expense that has been or will be covered by any other source of federal or state funding including, but not limited to, Paycheck Protection Program loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Community Development Block Grants, or any other source of federal or state aid.

• Business will collect and retain sufficient documentation to demonstrate that the expenses delineated in this application were incurred within the eligibility limits and established for the Sector-Specific Relief Grant Program. Documentation includes, but is not limited to, receipts, invoices, purchase orders, contracts, contemporaneous memoranda, or other relevant materials. These materials must be stored in an easily accessible and searchable format, in business control, and in compliance with document retention best practices. This documentation will be maintained in compliance with applicable federal, state, and municipal law to support internal and external audits of these obligations and expenditures. As the prime recipient of the Sector-Specific Relief Grant Program, the Commonwealth, reserves the right to request this documentation or other audit evidence at a future date.

• Grantor reserves the right to require Business to report on incurred expenses and/or outcomes in a form prescribed by the Grantor.

NON-APPROVED USE OF FUNDS:

Major equipment purchases, purchase of real property, construction activities, business expansion, lobbying. Also, grantees must prevent the duplication of benefits, which means these grant funds may not be used to pay expenses if another source of financial aid has paid that same expense.

*If a person owns multiple businesses and submits an application for each business, MGCC may reserve the right to limit proceeds to a business owner.

**If your business successfully applied for and received a grant from MGCC’s previous grant programs, the same business location may not apply to this program.

• Business must have a physical establishment in Massachusetts and be based in Massachusetts.
• Business must be a for-profit entity (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, cooperative or LLC).
• Business must be able to document a loss of income equal to or greater than requested assistance due to COVID-19 pandemic.
• Business must be currently in operation or if not in operation must have an intent to reopen.
• Business must have been established prior to 06/30/2019.
• Business must be in good standing with the state and city/town:
  • Business must be current on all taxes due through 3/1/2020; and
  • Have active and valid state licenses/registrations, if applicable; and
• Ineligible businesses:
  • Real estate rentals/sales businesses;
  • Businesses owned by persons under age 18;
  • Businesses that are chains (chains are defined as businesses not headquartered in Massachusetts with multiple locations);
  • Franchisees;
  • Liquor stores;
  • Lobbyists;
  • Cannabis-related businesses; or
  • Non-profit organizations

• A complete copy (all schedules) of your filed 2019 Federal Business Tax Return as submitted to the IRS. If you file Schedule C income, please upload that document in place of a Business Tax Return.
• A complete copy (all schedules) of your filed 2019 Federal Personal Tax Returns as submitted to the IRS for each business owner with 20% or greater ownership
• A copy of your License to Operate/Business License/Professional Certification, if applicable
• Completed and signed IRS W-9 Form for your business
• If your business is a LLC, Partnership or Corporation:
  • A copy of your Certificate of Good Standing from the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s office. If you need to request a Certificate of Good Standing, click here: https://corp.sec.state.ma.us/CorpWeb/Certificates/CertificateOrderForm.aspx. 
    • View Example Certificate
    • Note: If you do not have a Certificate of Good Standing prior to submission of your application, it will be required prior to funding.
    • Note: All entities organized in other states that operate in Massachusetts must be registered and in good standing in Massachusetts.
    • Note: A Certificate of Good Standing from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue is not required and will not be accepted as a substitute of the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Certificate of Good Standing.
• If your business is a Sole Proprietorship:
  • A copy of your Business Certificate (DBA) from the city/town in which your business operates
• A copy of the business owner's valid photo identification (ID). This ID must match the business owner who is an authorized signer that signs this application. Please submit a photocopy of the front and back of the ID.
  • Examples include (submit one): State-issued driver's license/ID card, U.S. Passport book or card, or other valid, state or federal issued photo ID