North Andover Coronavirus: Small Business Relief Grants Available

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Do you own a local small business struggling to pay the bills due to the coronavirus shutdown? The town is offering grants up to $3,000, using Columbia Gas settlement money.

The grants, which do not require repayment, will be equal to a month's rent our mortgage payment. The town is using the settlement's Municipal Discretionary Fund to create the grant program.

"This program prioritizes support for small businesses that represent industries that are most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the food industry, personal services (hair and nail salons, barbershops, massage therapists, etc.), state licensed home childcare providers, and retail shops," the town said.

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Eligible businesses must have been in North Andover for at least six months, have a physical location (except home childcare providers) and are in an industry hit hard by the virus, like restaurants, personal service companies, retailers, artists and childcare providers.

"A committee comprised of the town manager, the director of community and economic development, and the planning director will review applications on a rolling basis," the town said. "Applications will be processed until funds are exhausted. Please be patient as we expect a high volume of requests."

The application is available here.

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Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.