Small Business COVID-19 Relief Fund

Round 3 Funding (Closed)

Round 3 of the Somerville Covid-19 Small Business Relief Program supports Somerville businesses experiencing a substantial decline in business activity because of COVID-19 and impacted by industry specific closures mandated by the Commonwealth or the City of Somerville (Phase 4, Phase 3 of the Commonwealth’s Reopening Plan as well as restaurants).

Round 2 Funding (Closed)

Round 2 of the Somerville Small Business Covid-19 Relief Fund provides general assistance for small businesses impacted by Covid-19 ($7,500) and targeted assistance to restaurants that offered outdoor dining during the Summer and Fall of 2020 ($1,000).  All assistance is in the form of forgivable loans.

General Assistance (approximately $600,000 available)

• A $7,500 forgivable loan is available to reimburse for working capital expenses, including but not limited to rent or mortgage payments, payroll expenses including healthcare, and utility expenses
• 156 unique and verified applications were received by Tuesday, December 1 at 3 pm
• A selection lottery was held on Friday, December 4 at 10 am (see video)
• Lottery results are found here

The City anticipates that there is enough funding available to provide assistance to approximately 80 businesses.  Economic Development staff will reach out directly by email to the first 80 businesses selected in the lottery to begin the process of confirming program eligibility.  If a business proves to be ineligible, staff will contact the next business on the list and continue in this manner until all funds are exhausted.

Outdoor Dining Reimbursement  Program (approximately $85,000 available)

• Restaurants with current outdoor dining permits are eligible for a $1,000 forgivable loan to reimburse for outdoor furniture, heaters or other equipment  necessary to offer outdoor dining opportunities
• Application for Targeted Assistance for Outdoor Dining License Holders

Round 1 Funding (Closed)

On April 18th, Mayor Curtatone announced the establishment of the $1,000,000 Small Business COVID-19 Relief Fund. The Fund was designed to provide up to $10,000 forgivable loans for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications and program guidelines were made available online and in multiple languages on April 24th and applications were accepted until May 11th. Substantial outreach took place and included coordination with the Office of Immigrant Affairs and the Communications Team, outreach through the Economic Development e-newsletter, networking through our economic development partners, and targeted outreach to our small businesses utilizing other business assistance programs. Applications were reviewed by staff to ensure they met basic program eligibility guidelines. Next, an 8-person Review Committee was established and consisted of three OSPCD staff, Ward 2 City Councilor J.T. Scott, and four community representatives appointed by Somerville business organizations: East Somerville Main Streets, Union Square Main Streets, Somerville Chamber of Commerce, and The Welcome Project.

Program guidelines are available here.

Download a list of the questions included in the application.

Of the awardees...

• 46% are minority-owned businesses
• 56% are women-owned businesses
• Collectively, these businesses employ over 600 people

Committee Recommendation Memo

List of Round 1 Awardees Names

• A Curated World
• Ackerson ACQ, LLC dba The Boston Shaker
• Alexandra Whisnant dba gâté comme des filles
• AN LLC dba MAMA GINA'S PIZZA
• Ana's Hair Salon
• AnnexTW, Inc dba Bronwyn Restaurant
• Arow Express INC dba Arow Express Grab and Go
• Ashley Vick dba Filomena Demarco Jewelry
• B.EE.F. INC. dba Fasika Restaurant
• barra.bars,LLC dba BARRA
• be. in Union Yoga
• Beacon Street Cafe INC dba R.F. O'Sullivan & Son
• Beacon Street Pizza Llc dba Beacon Street Pizza
• Bergamot LLC dba Bergamot Restaurant
• Biosol beauty salon
• BLISS NAILS & SPA ASSEMBLY, INC. dba BLISS NAILS & SPA
• Boston Mobile iPhone Repairs dba Boston Mobile iPhone Repairs
• Bow Street Charm Corp dba Yoi Sushi & Chinese Restaurant
• Bread and Salt Hospitality, LLC dba Juliet
• Buddy’s Diner
• Buenas LLC
• Bull McCabe Corp dba Bull McCabe's Pub
• Caesar's Pizza & Subs, Inc.
• Cafe Rustica Inc
• Callan Hospitality Inc. dba The Dark Horse Public House
• Carolicious LLC
• Casa B LLC dba Casa B Tapas and Cocktail & Rum Bar
• Cercross and sons Inc dba Restaurante Turistico Machu Picchu
• Chacon restaurant group inc dba Los Paisanos
• Cordima Chiropractic Center, P.C.
• Davis Squared Inc dba Davis Squared
• Demeter Hospitality Group LLC dba Daddy Jones Bar
• EBI SUSHI INC dba EBI SUSHI
• Edson Lino dba International Optical
• Elliots House LLC dba Elliots House Pet Care & More
• Emily B. Chang, DDS,LLC dba Smiles Over Somerville
• EventThem
• Fadil African Hair Braiding
• Fat Hen LLC dba La Brasa / Fat Hen
• Federal Wine & Spirits Belmont dba Backbar
• Fedwell Pet Foods, Inc dba Petwell Supply
• Fernanda C. Macedo dba Fernanda’s beauty salon
• Forestbound
• G & A Foods Inc dba Falafel Place
• Gogle Mogle, Inc dba The Biscuit
• Grace Salon
• Gracie's Ice Cream, LLC dba Gracie's Ice Cream
• HAIR by Christine & co
• High Energy Vintage
• Highland Cuisine
• Hua Sheng Inc. dba Mandarin
• Isabel Bermejo dba April's Hair Cutting
• Josy Hair Salon
• KARALLI LLC dba Royal Pizza & Subs
• Kathmandu kitchen LLC dba Himalayan Kitchen
• Kaya Beauty Spa and Salon corp dba Kaya Beauty Spa
• Kayaa llc dba Momo n curry
• Laundry Huangli inc
• L& L CORP UNION MARKET dba Union Market
• Lisa's Nails Inc
• LKJ Pino Inc dba Amal Niccoli
• L'Optique Boutique
• Lumber Cats
• Machu Chicken INC dba Machu Chicken
• Make and Mend LLC dba Emily Tirella
• Mariachi Foods Inc. dba El Potro Mexican Grill
• Mark Food Enterprises dba Oliviera’s Steak House
• Maryom Hair Design
• MKJD LLC
• Mike's Bar Corporation
• Mineirao One Stop Mart, Inc.
• Moe Fencing Club LLC
• Moroccan hospitality
• Mt. Auburn Healthcare,UnionSquare dba Somerville Primary Care Clinic
• Narae Holdings dba Buk Kyung
• Navjot Kaur Corporation dba Masala Square
• New England Leather dba Swank
• New Style Beauty Salon
• Nievesfamilychildcare, Inc.
• Noel herbal skincare
• NU Cafe Somerville, LLC dba NU Kitchen
• O'Connor Awards Unlimited dba Awards Unlimited
• Olio Culinary Cooperative Corporation dba Tanám
• Open Space Community Acupuncture LLC
• Play Union, LLC
• Pet Spa Inc
• Portuguese American Lounge dba Union Tavern
• Prospect Hill Properties, Inc. dba The Independent
• Rebel Revel LLC Rebel Rebel
• RECINOS BARBERSHOP LIMITED PARTNERSHIP dba Recino's Barber Shop
• Recinos corporación dba Recinos Café
• Rei da Picanha & Events Inc
• Remnant Brewing, LLC dba Remnant Brewing
• RENATA & Co., LLC
• Restaurant la Mexicana Inc. dba Cantina La Mexicana
• Rincon Mexicano inc.
• S & H Coffee Company, Inc. dba Nine Bar Espresso
• Sally O Brien’s LLC dba Sally O Brien’s bar & grille
• Salon Aya
• Salon CU, INC.
• Salonika Hair Design
• Saus Bow Market Entertainment dba SAUS
• Shiso Kitchen LLC
• Sirit LLC dba Veggie Crust & Nice Cream
• SN4, Inc. dba Shivalic food and spice
• Some Yoga Studio, LLC
• Somerville Grooves
• Sri Shakti Corp. dba Dosa n Curry
• Studio M Barbershop and Salon dba Studio M
• Studio S Beauty Salon
• Sweet Spot Bakery LLC dba Lyndell's Bakery
• T&C Trust dba T&C Convenience
• TAQOS LLC dba Taco Loco Mexican Grill
• Tasty MoMo
• Thai J&J LLC dba Siam Ginger Thai Cuisine
• The Jungle Club LLC dba The Jungle Community Music Club
• Tiny Turns Designs LLC dba Tiny Turns Paperie
• Tree House Academy Child Care
• TRIPLE F PUB dba THE PUB
• Tufts Market LLC dba Tufts Market
• TW Productions, Inc dba T&B Pizza
• Two Little Monkeys
• Union Square Companies, LLC dba Union Square Donuts
• Union Square Group dba Brass Union
• Union Square Tailoring
• Urban Axes Boston, LLC dba Urban Axes
• V & Y Corp dba AR Nail Bar
• Vinal Bakery LLC dba Vinal Bakery
• Warehouse XI
• WINTER HILL PUB INC dba Olde Magoun’s Saloon