LYNN — For Michelle Mulford, owner of Uncommon Feasts, the $8,000 small business grant she received from the city on Thursday is a “lifeline” for her restaurant during these uncertain times.
“Our business is down significantly,” said Mulford. “(This grant) is amazing and it’s incredibly helpful. It’s a lifeline for our business. It’s just another example of why I love being in Lynn.”
Mulford said the grant is another example of the support she’s received from the community, the Economic Development & Industrial Corporation of Lynn (EDIC/Lynn) and the Greater Lynn Chamber of Commerce throughout the pandemic.
“Everyone has been really supportive,” said Mulford. “It’s enabled us to keep going, because I imagine the next bunch of months are going to be really uncertain.”
As of Thursday, 27 businesses have been awarded small business grants through EDIC/Lynn, the city’s development bank, and the city’s Department of Community Development. Twenty-four have been female or minority business owners, according to Mayor Thomas M. McGee.
Earlier this month, the city was awarded $2 million in federal funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and is using half of that funding to provide relief to small businesses.
City businesses and nonprofits with 25 employees or fewer are eligible for grants of up to $10,000, which is meant to help owners pay their employees, leases, mortgages, rent and utility bills so they can stay afloat during the pandemic.
This week, McGee said about $200,000 was awarded to businesses, with plans to distribute another $200,000 next week. About 200 businesses applied for the funding, he said.
The city received another boost this week, when the Attorney General’s Office announced that Lynn had been awarded a $45,000 grant through its Small Business Relief Partnership Grant program.
McGee said the funds will supplement the $1 million of funding that’s already been received through the CARES Act.
“It’s really a nice supplement,” said McGee. “It allows us to support a number of (additional) businesses. I want to thank the Attorney General’s office for helping us and awarding that grant.”
The Attorney General’s office awarded $500,000 to municipalities and regional planning agencies that are assisting small businesses this week.
“Our small businesses have suffered greatly by the financial crisis caused by this pandemic — we hope that this funding provides some relief as we work together to rebuild our economy,” said Attorney General Maura Healey in a statement. “We’ve been listening to our small businesses and will continue to look for ways to get them the support and resources they need during this challenging time.”
With the small business grant, Mulford said she’s been able to hire an additional staffer to add to the laid-off employees she plans to hire back next week when the cafe reopens.
As Mulford does not anticipate being able to operate Uncommon Feasts as a dine-in restaurant for the “foreseeable future,” she plans to use the grant to alter their business model toward a focus on prepared food and takeout.
To accommodate that change, Mulford has used a portion of the grant to purchase a refrigerator and freezer.
Although Mulford does not envision operating a traditional sit-down restaurant until at least next year, she said they still want people to be able to come inside their space in the Lydia Pinkham building for takeout and prepared food.
“We just don’t want people in here having to wear masks,” said Mulford. “It’s just not the kind of thing we do.”
McGee said the goal is to get the funding out to businesses quickly. He expects much of it will be distributed over the next couple of weeks.
“So many businesses have been impacted,” said McGee. “We wanted to ensure that most businesses were able to apply to this.”
The funds have been managed by the Department of Community Development through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Service Grant programs and administered in partnership with EDIC/Lynn.
“These grants are desperately needed in the business community and the businesses are so appreciative,” said James Cowdell, EDIC/Lynn executive director.
