SWAMPSCOTT — The town’s Office of Community and Economic Development has awarded grants to five small businesses to help with the added costs of doing business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each of the five businesses received the maximum grant amount of $10,000.
“We know that our small businesses have suffered tremendously during this pandemic,” said Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald in a statement. “We hope these funds will provide businesses with the much-needed working capital to continue operating and serving our community. I urge all to find a way to shop local as we look to sustain Swampscott’s small businesses at this critical time.”
The five businesses receiving money are Café Avellino, Kats Boutique, Lincoln’s Landing, New England Barber Studio, and Rosa Brothers Barber Shop. The funding will cover costs such as rent, staffing, utilities and other operating costs.
“Even though I’m working twice as hard and making half the amount of sales at the moment, the fact that the town of Swampscott is assisting us in this unpredictable time gives me a sense of relief and hope for a better year here in this town,” said Café Avellino owner Teresa Sirignano.
Funding for the grants comes from the Massachusetts Community Development Block Grant Program, supported by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Marzie Galazka, director of the town’s Office of Community and Economic Development, said that there are five more grants available, and encouraged interested businesses to reach out to see if they are eligible.
“We have the funding,” Galazka said. “Some businesses do not qualify, but I would still encourage those businesses to get in touch with me, because maybe if they’re not eligible for this program, I can connect them to other funding sources.”
Grant funding will be distributed on a rolling basis. Interested businesses should contact Galazka at (781) 596-8829 ext.1215 or at [email protected].
