Coronavirus: East Providence Emergency Small Business Fund

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — The East Providence Mayor's Office on Friday announced two emergency loan fund programs for small businesses. The programs are designed to provide small businesses with relief in the form of loans with no payments and no interest for at least six months.

Mayor Bob DaSilva, together with Planning & Economic Development Director William Fazioli, Chief Planner Jim Moran and Community Development Director Dave Bachrach, designed two loan programs.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has not only devastated the public's health, but has forced hundreds of businesses to shutter their doors leaving thousands of people unemployed," Mayor Bob DaSilva said. "We hope the rollout of these loans and modification of other loans will give our small businesses the support they need."

The Community Development: Job Retention Loan Program includes no payments for six months and no interests for the life of the loan and the Urban Development Action: COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Program offers no interest, no payments for six months. (LINK: https://www.eastprovidencebusiness.com/incentives/pages/east-providence-covid-19-small-business-assistance-loan-programs )

The Mayor's Office said the two programs, which are supported with existing federal grant funds, address the short-term financial needs of local businesses and those who are self-employed. The two programs are designed to provide the necessary funding to cover the businesses' various financial needs including: payroll, rent, utilities and other fixed expenses.

"While the City recognizes this is an interim step to provide immediate assistance, we are more than ever committed to building a strong and resilient economy," Mayor DaSilva said.

In order to gain feedback on how local businesses have been impacted by the pandemic, the city, together with the East Providence Chamber of Commerce, has distributed a survey to East Providence businesses. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JKMC8VW.

Mayor DaSilva said the city has also modified the payment schedule for seven existing loan participants. Payments on current loan programs will be deferred for three months beginning in April. Mayor DaSilva said he is also working with our congressional delegation to leverage benefits from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, which will provide additional financial relief to manufacturers, small businesses and those who are self-employed.

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