News from the office of Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante

Today, the Commonwealth announced a new $75 million grant program to support Massachusetts small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new program is part of the plan to spend $4 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that was passed by the House of Representatives in December 2021.

The new program is modeled after Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation’s (MGCC) successful COVID-19 small business relief program. Under that effort, which became the biggest state-sponsored business relief program in the nation, MGCC oversaw the distribution of approximately $705 million to over 15,000 small businesses across Massachusetts.

The $75 million will be focused on small businesses that employ between two and 50 people, with $25 million directed toward businesses that did not qualify for previous MGCC grants because of a lack of revenue loss in 2020, and $50 million directed to businesses that reach underserved markets and historically underrepresented groups, or are minority-, women-, or veteran-owned businesses, or are owned by individuals with disabilities or who identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Under both categories, grants will range from $10,000 to $75,000, and will be capped at the lesser of $75,000 or three months of operating expenses. Grant funding can be used for employee and benefit costs, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, and interest on debt.

In addition to prioritizing applications from businesses that did not qualify for prior aid and businesses owned by individuals from historically underserved populations or operate in underserved markets, eligible businesses must currently be in operation and based in Massachusetts. Applicants must also demonstrate that business revenues for 2020 were between $40,000 and $2.5 million.

Learn more at EmpoweringSmallBusiness.org.

Order- www.sushisanglee.com

SUSHI SANG LEE

Omakase Take Out Restaurant/ Private event

OPEN THIS WEEK THURSDAY 2/24, FRIDAY 2/25, SUNDAY 2/27 5pm ~ 8pm

CLOSED SATURDAY 2/26 for a pop up event at Ivory Pearl

LOCATED at SAVOUR WINE & CHEESE 76 PROSPECT ST GLOUCESTER, MA

THE ENTRANCE IS IN THE BACK PARKING LOT SIDE

PRIVATE PARTY INQUIRY EMAIL : sushisanglee@gmail.com PHONE : 978-381-3818 ORDER ONLINE

I just love a day with blue skies and sunshine even if it is about 25 degrees outside and this is always a favorite spot from which to observe the sun, shadows, sky and water.

It’s unfortunate that we can’t get real news like this from our traditional clown show “media”.

Watch this 10 minute clip and you’ll have a thousand percent better understanding of the background of this conflict.

There are several locations- https://hometeambbq.com/location/downtown-charleston/

Via @ GilletteStadium

Sandscape…

If you sat n the room when I was trying to get everything set up to go live precisely at 9AM you’d know how crazy it is at crunch time.

A new name and…refinished floors and a new wall length bench

Former Halibut Point location.

It was pretty choppy on both sides of the breakwater at Eastern Point last week. I like to document the waves breeching the wall so that visitors believe me when I caution them to be careful down there! For additional photos and details, check out Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook.