Assistance for Businesses
Impacted By Covid-19
This page highlights key Covid-related financial and technical assistance for Revere’s small businesses. Please visit the Covid-19 Response page for the most complete information on Revere's response efforts.
Quick Links:
- To add your business to Revere's Open for Business listing, please complete this survey.
- To request masks for your business (supplies limited), please visit visit the Mask Up Revere page.
- Other resources: License Commission | Resources for Businesses and Workers
Covid Guidance
Business Reopening Guidance
The City is actively monitoring and reviewing new guidance on reopening procedures. The most updated guidance will be posted at Reopening Massachusetts (Commonwealth of MA). Businesses should also review the documents below, in addition to monitoring their own industry guidance:
Required for Businesses: COVID-19 Control Plan Template (MA EOHED)
Mandatory Safety Standards for Workplaces (MA EOHED)
Restaurants and Bars: Reopening Decision-Making Chart (Centers for Disease Control)
Preview: Phase 2 Reopening Guidance
Safety Standards and Checklist: Restaurants (MA EOHED)
Safety Standards and Checklist: Operators of Lodgings (MA EOHED)
Safety Standards and Checklist: Retail Businesses (MA EOHED)
Business Engagement
The City has been engaging Revere's business community throughout the coronavirus pandemic through a series of completed and upcoming events. Please monitor this section for new information.
Business Office Hours
The City is hosting weekly Business Office Hours each Tuesday at 11am through the month of June.
The City hosted a set of May listening sessions. Download presentation
City officials also conducted two virtual forums in May to provide updates on key areas of interest for small businesses: public health, grant assistance, licensing, inspectional services, and income assistance for business owners and employees. Presentation materials can be downloaded below.
May 13 Business Forum (English): Download presentation
May 14 Business Forum (Spanish): Download presentation
Financial Assistance
NEW: Small Business Emergency Grant Program
The City of Revere is now offering working capital grants of up to $10,000 to Revere small businesses negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Funding is limited, and eligibility requirements and conditions apply.
The City has launched a grant program for small businesses in response to the demand for financial assistance resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. Flyers now available in: English | Spanish | Arabic | Portuguese | Khmer
This program is supported by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, and grant applications are subject to federal eligibility and reporting requirements.
What can grant funds cover?
These working capital grants are limited to following business expenses: lease or mortgage payments, utility payments, monthly debt payments, payroll, and/or inventory expenses. Prohibited uses include the acquisition of new property or the construction or repair of existing and/or new property.
Who is eligible for this grant?
The program is open to applicants who meet the following threshold criteria:
- Are a for-profit business with a physical location in Revere;
- Are in good standing with the City of Revere;
- Have experienced a loss of business income due to COVID-19;
- Have business rent/lease commitments or mortgage/loan obligations; and
- Have documentable business income loss, including business income comparisons (e.g. pre-Covid and during Covid) and are able to provide a description of negative impacts.
Businesses must also qualify as one of the following:
- A microenterprise business - a business with five employees or less, including the owner; and the owner must earn a household income of equal to or less than 80% of the area median income; or
- A small business having any number of employees, where as a result of grant funding, at least one job will be either: retained by a low-moderate income employee OR created (or in this case re-created) and available to low-moderate income persons; or
- A business with at least one employee (not including business owner) where the employee(s) are in jeopardy of losing their job due to Covid-19, and the business commits to either retaining the employee(s) because of assistance or hire(s) the employee(s) back within a reasonable period when normal business resumes.
Businesses That Are Ineligible For This Grant
Real estate, multi-level marketing, adult entertainment, cannabis, firearms, and social clubs.
Income Eligibility
Grant applications include required questions about applicants' current household income. Application review and funding decisions will be evaluated in conjunction with Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) area median income guidelines for business owner applicants and/or employees.
Language Access Support
The City is partnering with the Neighborly software program to offer this application in Spanish and French. To use this translation function: 1) Click on "My Profile"; 2) Select your preferred language from the drop-down menu.
Applications must be submitted online; however, the following resources are now available to support applicants in preparing their submissions: Application (Arabic) | Application (Portuguese)
U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) Programs
The CARES Act has authorized funding for a variety of low-interest or forgivable loan programs that are administered through the Small Business Association and participating financial institutions. Relevant updates about SBA loan programs are provided below.
For more extensive details, please visit the SBA Guidance and Loan Resources page. City staff have also prepared a Small Business Disaster Loan guide to support Revere businesses in exploring their options.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
To apply: contact your banking institution. A second round of PPP funding opened on Monday, April 27. To find eligible/participating PPP lenders, explore this listing of SBA lenders around Revere and this listing compiled by the Boston Federal Reserve Bank. On May 4, 2020, MA EOHED also released a list of eligible SBA lenders from the first PPP round. Translation services to support PPP applications are now available through the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation and its partners statewide. Access Translation Services here.
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
To apply: submit an application through https://covid19relief.sba.gov/. At this time, the awarding of funds has been suspended for the EIDL Program due to demand. Newly appropriated funds will be awarded to eligible businesses in the funding queue and applications will continue to be accepted.
Express Bridge Loan (Advance)
To apply: submit an application through https://covid19relief.sba.gov/. Please see above note re: EIDL funding availability.
Debt Relief
To apply: contact lender; applies only to existing SBA lending relationships.
Grant Opportunities
Visit this resource page for a listing of state and/or privately-funded grant opportunities for small businesses, non-profits, employees, independent contractors, and others. Featured grant(s) at this time:
- Massachusetts Food Trust Program (via LEAF): provides loans, grants, and business assistance for increasing access to healthy, affordable food in low-income, underserved areas. Businesses, nonprofits, and emerging enterprises eligible. Applications open through July 31, 2020.
For Your Protection
Please be aware of the rise of scammers promoting fraudulent programs. Additional guidance is available from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office and from the Small Business Association.
Technical Assistance
City of Revere Assistance
Contact Revere’s Covid-19 Business Response Team via email or by calling Revere 311.
- The Business Response Team is led by the Office of Strategic Planning and Economic Development in partnership with other City departments and volunteers.
- Staff are available to provide information and guidance to Revere businesses, including referrals to community partners, institutions, and/or technical assistance providers.
Business owners, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals seeking assistance in applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or related programs are also invited to call CONNECT’s Spanish/English hotline at 617-712-3487.
Regional Resources
Pro-Bono Legal Assistance: Covid Relief Coalition
The COVID Relief Coalition is a coalition of law firms, nonprofits and governmental agencies that have joined forces to provide pro-bono legal assistance to small businesses and nonprofits to access emergency loans and other sources of relief.
Small Business Counseling
COVID-19 Small Business Stabilization Network: This network is providing targeted technical assistance, including multilingual assistance, to businesses seeking to access small business loan and relief programs.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): SBDCs are serving both new and existing small business clients with 1:1 remote business counseling and group workshop webinars.
Women’s Business Centers (WBCs): WBCs provide free to low cost counseling and training and focus on emerging or current women entrepreneurs. Remote classes and self-paced workshops may be available to eligible businesses.
Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC): Designed to provide entrepreneurial development services and referrals for eligible veterans owning or considering starting a small business. Remote classes and self-paced workshops may be available to eligible businesses.
Trainings and Webinars
Volunteer Opportunities
If you would like to support Revere's Covid-19 response: complete this volunteer form.
If you would like to provide specific assistance related to small businesses, please contact the Covid-19 Business Response Team.