LYNN — The state’s Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy paid the city a visit Thursday morning to discuss the challenges faced by small business owners during the pandemic.
This was the 10th stop — of 25 — on the Baker-Polito administration’s statewide small business and downtown conversation tour, which highlights the commonwealth’s reopening and discusses the administration’s $2.9 billion proposal to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic through federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Kennealy was joined by members of his team, Mayor Thomas M. McGee, state Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn), state Rep. Pete Capano (D-Lynn), Executive Director of Economic Development & Industrial Corporation (EDIC/Lynn) James M. Cowdell and other community members and business owners.
Kennealy began his visit at Nightshade Noodle Bar on Exchange Street, then visited Los Chamos on Union Street. He spoke with the owners of both establishments, asking how business has been and what challenges have come forth as a result of the pandemic.
He then walked over to the new Caldwell apartments on Munroe Street, where he spoke with the owners of Soul City Yoga — Shanel Anderson and Sara Bailey — who will be the first tenants in the first-floor retail space of the new apartment building.
The tour ended with a roundtable discussion at Ciao Cafe and Bistro, where community members and business owners asked Kennealy questions and learned about the state’s future plans to assist with economic recovery.
Meeting with these entrepreneurs will help Kennealy’s team better understand the downtown area and its businesses, he said, which in turn will help them to implement programs to assist these areas of focus.
“It’s wonderful to get back out into our communities and meet our small business owners,” Kennealy said.
McGee thanked Kennealy for taking the time to visit Lynn and expressed his appreciation of the state’s support to the number of local businesses over the past year and a half.
Cowdell said that in total, the city received more than $2 million in federal funds to help the small businesses.
“In grant money, to get us through COVID-19, the City of Lynn invested $9 million and that was thanks to a partnership with the state,” Cowdell said.
In the current administration, Kennealy said, they have tried to be as supportive as they can throughout the pandemic, conducting a state-wide small business relief program — which he said was made possible through grants from close collaborations with community partners — small-business technical assistance programs and Shared Streets and Spaces grants that help fund outdoor space for dining and commerce.
They have also marketed small businesses with a “Let’s Go Out” campaign to promote restaurants, as well as the “My Local MA” campaign, aimed at getting people thinking about supporting their downtown and local businesses, rather than buying something online.
“Before they buy something online, think about that main street shop, or that tourist destination or local restaurant to go to,” Kennealy said. “We recognize that small businesses make up the fabric of great communities, so we have to keep investing in our communities and our downtowns.”
In addition to supporting infrastructure improvement projects and building more housing, Kennealy said supporting small businesses is an important aspect to think about and plan for as we come out of the pandemic.
Through his tours of communities across the state, Kennealy will meet with more than 100 businesses to hear what’s happening on the ground.
Another important element he is highlighting on these tours is the $5.3 billion in funds the state has received from the federal government’s ARPA legislation, which will dedicate $350 million in relief toward downtown investments.
“Look at our main streets and look at our downtowns. How do we continue to support our downtowns?” Kennealy asked. “With more capital, more programs, more community partnerships, more assistance to our small business.”
Kennealy said there are new programs in the works, which will help small businesses do more online and digital marketing, as well as crowdfunding programs.
“We’re going to keep the assistance coming,” Kennealy said.
The goal of these visits, he said, is to “listen and learn” so the state can determine what to do to be the “best, most supportive and most-engaged partners.”
