Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation Grant Opportunity

The Seaport team at WS Development are reaching out to inform neighbors of the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) Grant. Massachusetts based businesses could potentially benefit up to $75K in grant monies if eligible. This grant application closes on January 15th.

 

MGCC Program Overview

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made an additional $668 million available to support businesses through new and existing programs. Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) will target a portion of these funds to sectors experiencing the most significant economic hardship and a loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Application Link:

Link: https://massgcc4.submittable.com/submit

 

Who Should Apply:

·    Restaurants, bars, caterers, and food trucks that collect and remit meals tax

·    Indoor Recreation or Entertainment Establishments

·    Indoor entertainment establishments (e.g. movie theaters, comedy clubs, performing arts venues/organizations)

·    Indoor recreation (e.g. arcades, bowling centers, pool/billiard halls, escape-the-rooms, trampoline parks, roller-skating rinks)

·    Indoor spectator sports venues

·    Other indoor recreation or entertainment venues

·    Gyms or Fitness Centers

·    Gyms, athletic clubs, exercise centers, health clubs

·    Sports facilities (e.g. tennis clubs, racquetball clubs, hockey rinks, swimming facilities)

·    Fitness instruction centers (e.g. aerobics, dance, yoga, karate, etc.)

·    Other gyms or fitness centers

·    Personal Services

·    Nail salons, barbershops, etc.

·    Independent pharmacies 

·    Event Support Companies - primary source (more than 50%) of revenue is event-related

·    Photography studios, videography studios, florists, limo services, event planning companies, event rentals, performers, convention and trade show organizations

·    Independent Retailers

·    Businesses with brick and mortar locations that collect and remit sales tax

 

 Who Should Not Apply:

To ensure that these limited funds get to the most severely impacted businesses, you SHOULD NOT APPLY if you:

·    are not showing an operating loss due to the coronavirus pandemic

·    have access to other sources of relief

·    have been able to continue to operate without significant financial distress

·    have adequate available reserves

·    larger companies that are better positioned to endure this economic downturn and COVID-19 related restrictions

 

Timeline:

12/31/2020 at 12:00 PM – Application opens.

01/15/2021 at 11:59 PM – Application closes.

  

Amount of Funding:

Businesses can receive up to $75,000 but capped at up to 3 months of operating expenses, as evidenced by 2019 Federal Tax Returns. Grant amounts will be considered for actual expenses for 2020 during the pandemic. Expenses can be considered since March 10, 2020, given that it does not exceed 3 months of operating expenses evidenced by 2019 Federal Tax Returns.

 

Award Process:

After the application period closes, Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) will review all applications to determine eligibility. MGCC will award and disburse grants based upon eligibility criteria and preference prioritization.

 

Approved Use of Funds:

Employee payroll and benefit costs, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, and interest on other debt obligations.

·    The business will not apply the funds granted in response to this application to any expense that has been or will be covered by any other source of federal or state funding including, but not limited to, Paycheck Protection Program loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Community Development Block Grants, or any other source of federal or state aid.

·    The business will collect and retain sufficient documentation to demonstrate that the expenses delineated in this application were incurred within the eligibility limits and established for the Sector-Specific Relief Grant Program. Documentation includes, but is not limited to, receipts, invoices, purchase orders, contracts, contemporaneous memoranda, or other relevant materials.

 

Non-Approved Use of Funds:

Major equipment purchases, purchase of real property, construction activities, business expansion, lobbying. Also, grantees must prevent the duplication of benefits, which means these grant funds may not be used to pay expenses if another source of financial aid has paid that same expense.

 

*If a person owns multiple businesses and submits an application for each business, MGCC may reserve the right to limit proceeds to a business owner.

**If your business successfully applied for and received a grant from MGCC’s previous grant programs, the same business location may not apply to this program.

 

 

Requirements:

·    Business must have a physical establishment in Massachusetts and be based in Massachusetts.

·    Business must be a for-profit entity (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, cooperative or LLC).

·    Business must be able to document a loss of income equal to or greater than requested assistance due to COVID-19 pandemic.

·    Business must be currently in operation or if not in operation must have an intent to reopen.

·    Business must have been established prior to 06/30/2019.

·    Business must be in good standing with the state and city/town:

·    Business must be current on all taxes due through 3/1/2020; and

·    Have active and valid state licenses/registrations, if applicable; and

·    Ineligible businesses:

·    Real estate rentals/sales businesses;

·    Businesses owned by persons under age 18;

·    Businesses that are chains (chains are defined as businesses not headquartered in Massachusetts with multiple locations);

·    Franchisees;

·    Liquor stores;

·    Lobbyists;

·    Cannabis-related businesses; or

·    Non-profit organizations

 

Required Documentation: 

·    A complete copy (all schedules) of your filed 2019 Federal Business Tax Return as submitted to the IRS. If you file Schedule C income, please upload that document in place of a Business Tax Return.

·    A complete copy (all schedules) of your filed 2019 Federal Personal Tax Returns as submitted to the IRS for each business owner with 20% or greater ownership

·    A copy of your License to Operate/Business License/Professional Certification, if applicable

·    Completed and signed IRS W-9 Form for your business

·    If your business is a LLC, Partnership or Corporation:

·    A copy of your Certificate of Good Standing from the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s office.

·    If your business is a Sole Proprietorship:

·    A copy of your Business Certificate (DBA) from the city/town in which your business operates

·    A copy of the business owner's valid photo identification (ID). This ID must match the business owner who is an authorized signer that signs this application. Please submit a photocopy of the front and back of the ID.

·    Examples include (submit one): State-issued driver's license/ID card, U.S. Passport book or card, or other valid, state or federal issued photo ID

2018 Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grants Available

The Fort Point Channel Operations Board, comprising representatives from the Boston Planning & Development Agency (for the City of Boston), Boston Properties (representing the Fort Point Channel Abutters Group), and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (representing the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs), announced Monday that approximately $40,000 in grant monies for the 2018 Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grant Program for the purposes of advancing the Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Plan. The Grant Program provides financial resources for capital improvements and public programming within and along the Fort Point Channel. 

• Capital Improvements - Projects that include the construction of new water-based infrastructure that further implements the City of Boston’s Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Plan.
• Public Programming - Projects that include the development of new public programming that activate the Fort Point Channel including, but not limited to, public events, new public art installations, and public education installations.

Funding for the Grant Program is from the Chapter 91 Waterways Regulations License #11419 for Russia Wharf. The funds are held in escrow by the FPCOB.

Additional details on the application, qualified projects and eligibility is available here. Contracts are expected to be awarded by March 31, 2018. Projects must be completed by June 1, 2019 and reimbursement requested by June 15, 2019.

The deadline for proposals is 12 noon on Friday, March 2, 2018 to Richard McGuinness, Deputy Director for Climate Change & Environmental Planning, BPDA.

Questions or concerns may be directed to Erikk Hokenson, Waterfront Planner, BPDA.

originally published 2.7.18

2017 Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grants Announced

In case you missed it, last month the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) and the Fort Point Channel Operations Board (FPCOB) awarded five grants totaling $50,300 to art, education, and community groups with plans for activating the Fort Point Channel Watersheet for the 2017 season.

Grant applicants were asked to submit creative proposals for water-based programming in and around Fort Point that will benefit the general public, including such things as new water-based infrastructure, public events, art installations, and educational opportunities.

2017 Winning Projects

Outdoor Programming at Boston Children’s Museum
Applicant:Boston Children’s Museum
Award: $10,000
The Boston Children’s Museum submitted a proposal for free, family-friendly, and educational outdoor programming on the waterfront this summer.

Brown Box Season of Free Theater
Applicant: Brown Box Theatre Project
Award: $10,000
Brown Box Theatre Project’s professional, high-quality, and free performances will return to the Fort Point Channel for the fifth year with both indoor and outdoor performances with support for professional actors and the promotion of their productions.

FPC Floating Salt Marsh
Applicant: Community Boat Building
Award: $7,239
Community Boat Building (CBB)’s mission is to bring real world experience and academic skills together to build both a sea-worthy boat and an excitement for learning among low-income elementary school students in Boston Public Schools (BPS). CBB plans to construct a floating salt marsh that will engage at-risk BPS students and reinforce STEM academics.

Discovering Fort Point Channel: A Science and Art Exploration of the Beings and Beauty of the Waterfront
Applicant: “e”, Inc.
Award: $7,061
Previous grantee “e” inc. will return with its six-week marine science education program at Atlantic Wharf on Fort Point Channel this July and August. Youth from various urban summer camps and social service centers will be able to enjoy hands-on science lessons and experience rowing in Boston Harbor.

Floating Public Art Series
Applicant: Fort Point Arts Community
Award: $16,000
The Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC) will bring more floating art to the Fort Point Channel—two temporary floating public art projects timed to coincide with FPAC’s Fall and Spring Open Studio events.

About the Fort Point Watersheet Activation Plan
The grant program is part of the Fort Point Watersheet Activation Plan, established in 2002 by the Mayor's Office and the Boston Redevelopment Authority to spearhead a vision for a “Boston Common on the water.” The Plan, which proposed new cultural activities and year round programming, resulted from a successful collaborative effort between the City, the State’s Office of Coastal Zone Management, landowners, nonprofit and cultural leaders, and residents. The Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grant Program is funded by the Chapter 91 Waterways Regulations License for Atlantic Wharf, developed by Boston Properties.

2017 Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grants

The Fort Point Channel Operations Board is pleased to announce a grant program for 2017. The Grant Program provides financial resources for capital improvements and public programming within and along the Fort Point Channel as envisioned in the City of Boston’s Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Plan.

The Fort Point Channel Operations Board expects to award up to $50,000 in total funding for the 2017 Grant Program.  Applicants can request up to $50,000 in funding, although typically smaller amounts are awarded. 

Applications are due 12:00 p.m. February 24, 2017. Click here for the application form and guidelines. If you have any questions, contact Erikk Hokenson, Waterfront Planner, Boston Planning & Development Agency. 

originally published 2.9.17

Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grants Available

The Boston Redevelopment Authority and the Fort Point Channel Operations Board are accepting applications for this year’s Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grant Program. Now in its fifth year, the program provides financial resources for capital improvements and public programming within and along the Fort Point Channel, as envisioned in the Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Plan. The plan was established in 2002 through a collaborative effort between the BRA, City of Boston, landowners, nonprofit and cultural leaders, and residents to encourage new cultural activities and year-round programming in Fort Point.

A total of $40,000 is available to organizations for the 2016 grant cycle, and applications are due on February 29, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. Applicants can request up to $40,000, but the BRA and the Fort Point Channel Operations Board have historically allocated smaller amounts to multiple organizations in order to promote a range of activities and improvements in the neighborhood.

The competitive grant seeks creative proposals for water-based programming in and around Fort Point that will benefit the general public, including such things as new water-based infrastructure, public events, art installations, and educational opportunities.

To be eligible, an organization must be tax-exempt or operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit. For-profit organizations may be eligible for funding at the discretion of the Fort Point Channel Operations Board if the project constitutes a not-for-profit, public project. Grant contracts are expected to be awarded by March 28, 2016, and projects must be completed by June 1, 2017.

View 2015 funded projects at the Boston Redevelopment Authority website.

Fort Point Channel Operations Board 2015 Grant Program Announced

The Fort Point Channel Operations Board is pleased to announce a grant program for 2015. The Grant Program provides financial resources for capital improvements and public programming within and along the Fort Point Channel as envisioned in the City of Boston’s Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Plan.

The Fort Point Channel Operations Board expects to award up to $50,000 in total funding for the 2015 Grant Program.  Applicants can request up to $50,000 in funding. 

Applications are due 5:00 p.m. February 20, 2015. Click here for the application form and guidelines.

Outreach assistance for the grant program is provided by Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Julie Burros, Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston.