118 Somerville Businesses Awarded $1.5M In Latest COVID Relief

SOMERVILLE, MA — Somerville has awarded more than $1.5 million to 118 businesses over the past month. The city also expanded its eligibility criteria for its COVID-19 Business Relief Program to deliver direct aid to more local businesses and nonprofits.

Businesses that can demonstrate close ties to gyms, theaters, event spaces or other sectors facing government-directed closures and whose revenues have decreased by at least 50 percent in the past year are now eligible.

Somerville launched Round 3 of its COVID-19 Business Relief Program in January, allocating an additional $5 million for businesses facing government-mandated closures, including restaurants and businesses in Phase 3 and Phase 4 of the state's reopening plan.

Under the new criteria, businesses such as florists or event planners, and nonprofits classified as gyms, fitness facilities, indoor recreation and event facilities are now eligible.

Since the onset of the pandemic, Somerville has allocated a total of $6,750,000 in emergency aid and waived $750,000 in fees for Somerville small businesses.

In addition to direct financial assistance, the city's Economic Development team continues to offer intensive, multilingual support to local businesses, including weekly virtual town halls, topic-specific webinars, one-on-one business coaching and referrals to other economic stabilization funds.

For applications and a list of recipients, visit somervillema.gov/BizRelief.