Valley CDC Regional Small Business COVID Recovery Grants Program

Pioneer Valley Planning Commission has been awarded federal funds through the CARES Act to support local small businesses hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Valley Community Development Corporation will act as Program Administrator for the application and selection process to award one-time grants up to $10,000 for businesses located in Agawam, Easthampton, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, South Hadley, Southampton, Southwick or Westhampton.

REGISTER HERE

Instrucciones de registro

Instructions d'inscription

Registration Instructions In English

PDF of Application Questions - Updated October 31st

NEED HELP ON YOUR APPLICATION?
View recorded webinar here.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) can be found here. If you have questions, send them to grants@valleycdc.com and check back on the FAQ page for answers.

These links will put you in touch with FREE local assistance to help your prepare your application:
The Center for Women & Enterprise: Info.CentralMA@CWEonline.org
SCORE
Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network




ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must be able to provide supporting documents to show eligibility in all four of the following categories:
“Micro-enterprise” businesses (5 or fewer employees including owner) that were established prior to the pandemic (business must have been operating prior to January 1, 2019).
Applicant must be able to show records that support a loss of income due to Covid-19.
Grant funds must be used to pay for or reimburse expenses in the following categories:
Working Capital – Business operating expenses such as rent, utilities and staffing.
Technology and Online Marketing or Sales Services – Software purchases or upgrades, website design, app development, transitioning to e-commerce, online ordering and payment systems and the training that comes with new technology.
Safety Equipment and Products – Extra costs for PPE, cleaning supplies, safety or other procedures to remain open and provide a healthy and safe atmosphere for employees and customers. Implementation, monitoring and maintenance of same.
Costs for Adapting to Operations During Pandemic – Examples might be new materials, supplies or inventory related to packaging or handling merchandise, reconfiguration of space to accommodate curbside pick-up, delivery options added, etc.
Business Advising and Support – Expenses related to modifying existing business model. This might include capacity building, accounting support, business planning, financial education or training to gain other necessary business skills

Please note there is also an Equal Opportunity Set-aside for business owners who are of racial/ethnic minority, women, veterans, persons with a disability, or LBGTQ.

Grants will be awarded on a basis of first-come, first-served, first-completed and determined eligible for each funding pool.

TIMELINE
The online application portal will launch at NOON on November 2, 2020 here.

APPLICATION MATERIALS AND LINKS
Application Form: Regional Small Business Grant Application Updated October 31

COVID IMPACT STATEMENT:
2019-2020 Profit & Loss Comparison Template: Excel PDF
Duplication of Benefits Form: Duplication of Benefits Certification for CDBG-CV
Certification of Minority Owned Business for Equal Opportunity Set Aside PDF

APPLICATION PORTAL OPENS ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2nd at NOON

Sign up for email updates and application materials here

Frequently Asked Questions

Regional Program Criteria Grid

Funding made available through the Federal CARES Act with Community Development Block Grant funding (CDBG-CV) as awarded to the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

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OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Two new STATEWIDE programs were released on October 22nd:
SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS FOR 5 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES
SMALL BUSINESSES WITH 50 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES

NOTE: You can apply for Valley’s Program and these programs simultaneously, but you cannot receive grants for the same use of funds for the same time period. (See “Duplication of Benefits” in the FAQ)

Request For Proposals: The Coolidge Village | Front Facade Signage

WHAT: The Coolidge Village | Front Facade Signage: Request For Proposals
WHERE: Submission link: https://forms.gle/p6hB15Xat5V2EejXA
WHEN: Submission Deadline - Midnight EST, April 16, 2021.

Project Narrative & Goals:

The Coolidge Village Board of Trustees is seeking an artist or team to create an original, site-specific artwork to be installed on the West facade/ entryway to the property. The building is located at 73 Bridge Street in Northampton, MA, next to "Implant & Family Dentistry".

This opportunity is open to established professional artists. The deadline for submission is midnight EST, April 16, 2021.

We welcome submissions from artists working in a broad range of media and encourage the inclusion of 2D elements.

Dimensions: approximately 61” high x 45” wide.

Please refer to the Full RFP for detailed plans and additional information.

Our hope is that the finished piece will create a signature presence for the building and welcome visitors to Downtown Northampton as it is one of the first things many I-91 travelers will see upon arriving/ before entering Downtown proper.

The application deadline for short proposals is Midnight EST, April 16th, 2021.

Please submit your proposal via google forms here: https://forms.gle/p6hB15Xat5V2EejXA

You will need to log into or create a google account in order to complete the form.


Budget:

This project’s total budget is up to $15k commensurate with the scope of the project. The budget for any proposal submitted cannot exceed this amount and we cannot increase the budget due to cost overruns.

Applicants’ budgets must include the costs of transportation, installation, and estimated annual maintenance. The Coolidge Village Board of Trustees expects the selected artwork to endure, thus the total project budget must allow for the proper upkeep of the proposed piece over time. The longevity of the piece will be a factor in the selection. This public art project will become the property of The Coolidge Village Board of Trustees which maintains the right to remove the work if necessary.


Qualifications & Eligibility:

This project is open to established professional artists. The artist must have the ability (working with the appropriate Northampton boards and departments) to propose, develop, design, produce, supervise, and install a finished piece that will be durable over time, meet safety codes and regulations, and be integrated into the site. The artist will be responsible for fabricating the piece, transporting it to the site of 73 Bridge Street for installation, and completing the installation. The Coolidge Village Board of Trustees will assist with making connections between the artist, builder, and city departments as needed.


Approach:

The Coolidge Village Board of Trustees is using a two-step process for the selection of this new piece of public art.

STEP #1:

In the first step, artists will submit a short proposal that provides the Board of Trustees with an overview of the project’s concept, materials, approximate budget, and artist’s qualifications.


STEP #2:

Proposals will then be reviewed by remaining Property Owners, and a number of finalists will be chosen.

Finalists will be asked to submit a more detailed project plan and it is from these plans that the Board of Trustees will make in final selection.


There are no limits to the number of short proposals that an artist or team can submit, but each proposal must stand on its own.


Deadlines & Schedule:  

The following schedule is subject to change. Please contact us so that we can notify you of any schedule updates. Answers will be provided to everyone who has submitted a letter of intent or questions.


November 15, 2021 - Publish RFP

April 16, 2021 - Short proposals due

April 23, 2021 - Selection Committee review of short proposals

May 3, 2021 - Finalist(s) selected and notified

May 11, 2021 - Finalist(s)’ full proposals due

May 14 , 2021 - Final Decision by Selection Committee

May 17, 2021 - Artist(s) notified

May 31, 2021 - Begin installation

June 28, 2021 - Installation deadline


Criteria: The following criteria, listed in order of priority, will be used in evaluating proposals:

Artistic merit

Feasibility (materials, maintenance, durability, safety codes and regulations)

Technical Competence/Qualifications and Support Materials

Comprehensive Budget


Proposal Format & Submission:

The application deadline for short proposals is Midnight EST, April 16, 2021

Please submit your proposal via google forms here:  https://forms.gle/p6hB15Xat5V2EejXA


You will need to log into or create a google account in order to complete the form.


1. Artist/Team Contact Information

If submitting as a team, enter the designated team leader’s contact information at the top of the form. Include a list of the people involved in your project and their roles.

2. Project Title and Summary

Provide a title for the proposal and summarize your project in approximately 300 words.

3. Concept Description

Explain how your work will integrate into the site and any conceptual information you feel is relevant.  Include materials to be used, construction and installation methods, and projected maintenance requirements. Please include a projected timeline for installation.

4. Drawings/Renderings

Four to six preliminary design drawings. Detail how the piece will be secured to the building. Please submit jpeg, png, or PDF format.

5. Budget

Provide a preliminary budget for your project that includes design, construction, transportation, and installation costs. Estimate the longevity of the piece, and anticipated annual maintenance. Google spreadsheets are ideal. Word, Exel, PDF, and other formats are acceptable.

6. Qualifications

Describe examples of your work that illustrate both your creativity and your ability to complete a project of this scope. If submitting as a team, include a description of how the team works together. Upload resumes for all team members. Please submit in PDF format.

7. Images

Submit up to 8 images of recent work that best illustrate your technical and creative capacity. In a separate document, provide a checklist for the images; list materials used, location, and date of the work shown. Please submit in jpeg, png, or PDF format.


Please submit your proposal via google forms before Midnight EST April 16, 2021  https://forms.gle/p6hB15Xat5V2EejXA


You will need to log into or create a google account in order to complete the form.


Contact Information:

Brittany Hathaway- hello@brittanyhathaway.com  or brittany.e.hathaway@gmail.com

MGCC offers COVID-19 Grants for Massachusetts Small Businesses

WHAT: COVID-19 Grants for Massachusetts Small Businesses 
WHEN: 10/22/2020 at 12:00 PM – Application opens
              11/12/2020 at 12:00 PM – Application closes

Application:
- APPLY TO SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS FOR 5 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES
- APPLY TO SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS FOR 50 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES

For More Information Visit:
www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/covid-19-response/covid-19-grants-massachusetts-small-businesses

Grants Overview:
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made $50.8 million in grants available to support small businesses, microenterprises, and their employees, families and communities. Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) will be administering these funds to businesses experiencing economic hardship and a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

These funds were appropriated through the Commonwealth’s Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) as well as the CARES Act of 2020 and are divided into two programs.

Grant funding is intended to help businesses adversely impacted by the pandemic. Preference will be given to small businesses whose owners are women, minorities, veterans, members of other underrepresented groups, who are focused on serving the Gateway Cities of Massachusetts, and those most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Preference will also be given to applicants that have not been able to receive aid from other federal programs related to COVID-19.

Timeline: Application will be open for 3 weeks
10/22/2020 at 12:00 PM – Application opens.
11/12/2020 at 12:00 PM – Application closes.

Applicant Eligibility:
Each program encompasses its own eligibility criteria, set forth below. Applicants must review the information to determine which program to proceed with applying.

Program Details:

SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS FOR 5 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES

AMOUNT OF FUNDING:
Up to $25,000

APPROVED USE OF FUNDS:
Funds may be used for working capital to cover business costs, such as rent, staffing, utilities, and technical assistance, general support and stabilization of the business. Funds may also be used for purchasing personal protection equipment (PPE).

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 one business per owner.


SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS FOR 50 OR FEWER EMPLOYEES

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.

APPROVED USE OF FUNDS:
Employee payroll and benefit costs, mortgage interest, rent, utilities and interest on other debt obligations.

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 one business per owner.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: 
www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/covid-19-response/covid-19-grants-massachusetts-small-businesses

FY21 LCC Grant Deadline Extended

 FY21 LCC Grant Deadline Extended: December 14, 2020 11:59 EST

The State Legislature just approved another one-month operating budget through the end of November.  This additional delay in setting the annual state budget means that the earliest possible time the Mass Cultural Council can determine and announce LCC allocations is January.  If any additional one-month budgets are passed, it would delay that further. 

Because of this delay, difficulty of LCCs securing virtual meeting spaces, and applicants navigating new guidance around virtual programs, the Mass Cultural Council has made the decision to extend the FY21 LCC grant application deadline to December 14, 2020 at 11:59 EST.

This change will allow not only applicants more time to review and prepare their applications around new guidelines, but also allow Local Cultural Councils more flexibility to make any changes to their local priorities and to publicize the grant cycle and do additional outreach to and support of applicants.

Public Art Learning Fund presented by New England Foundation for The Arts (NEFA)

Public Art Learning Fund

The Public Art Learning Fund aims to strengthen the field of public art in New England by providing professional development support directly to artists.

The Public Art Learning Fund provides grants of $500 to $2,000 to support professional development opportunities for New England artists to strengthen their public art practices. Through the Public Art Learning Fund, NEFA intends to foster the continued development of more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England.

APPLICATION DEADLINES: 

Deadline extended to December 14, 2020, 11:59 PM Eastern
For opportunities that take place between January-December 2021.

APPLY NOW 

Resume Application

About NEFA's Public Art Programs: 

Public Art Learning Fund is one of NEFA’s grant programs supporting artists in the field of public art.

For more information about other elements of NEFA’s Public Art programs:
VISIT THE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM PAGE

Program Values & Goals:

A core value of NEFA’s Public Art programs is that:

Diverse cultural and artistic expressions are essential to more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life.

The Public Art Learning Fund aims to support the evolving field of public art and uphold this core value by investing in artists to develop the skills, resources, and connections they need in order to build a thriving community of practice in New England that supports diverse artistic and cultural expressions in the public realm.

Through the Public Art Learning Fund, NEFA is asking artists to identify the professional development needs and opportunities that strengthen their public art practice and by extension the public art field at this time. In partnership with our grantees, NEFA strives to learn how we can better support more equitable and sustainable public art practices throughout New England.


Eligibility:

The Public Art Learning Fund focuses on professional development opportunities that build necessary skills, resources, connections and strengthen artists’ public art practices and the public art field at large.

Artists may utilize the Public Art Learning Fund to: pursue a specific professional development opportunity to strengthen their own public art practice in New England and beyond. Examples may include but are not limited to attending a conference, workshop, training, or discussion related to building creative or administrative skills related to their public art practice; registration fees and travel expenses are eligible expenses.

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicant must be an artist who resides full-time and makes work in one of the six New England States (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)
Applicant must be an artist whose artistic practice engages the public realm or who can demonstrate that they are in the process of expanding their artistic work into the public realm
Applicant must have a Creative Ground profile. Need assistance with your CreativeGround profile?

Proposed professional development opportunity must:

specifically relate to strengthening the applicant artist’s own public art practice
take place during the grant period (see Application Process & Deadlines below)

Note: There are no geographic limitations for the professional development opportunity requested (e.g. an artist may apply to the Public Art Learning Fund to attend a conference outside of New England).

Applicants who are NOT eligible to apply are:

Artists seeking funding to develop or implement a specific public art project.
Current Public Art Learning Fund grantees. Grantees must complete their funded activity and final grantee report before being eligible to apply for another Public Art Learning Fund grant.

Funding Priorities:

Public Art Learning Fund equips artists with skills, resources, and connections to strengthen public art practices that foster more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England.

The Public Art Learning Fund gives priority to timely opportunities that are:

Removing barriers to access. NEFA recognizing that some artists may experience barriers to accessing professional development opportunities due to race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography.
Valuing geographic diversity within the region. The Public Art Learning Fund aims to support artists across the region from urban, suburban, and rural communities across all six states in New England.
Advancing the evolving field of public art through learning opportunities related to fostering more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England.
Specifically expanding an artist’s public art practice. NEFA will look for clarity on desired learnings (e.g. how to develop a project budget) and application to artist’s public art practice.

Application Process & Deadlines

Public Art Learning Fund will have two application deadlines a year.

Upcoming Deadlines

Deadline extended to December 14, 2020, 11:59 PM Eastern
For opportunities that take place between January-December 2021
Spring 2021

Public Art Learning Fund grants are taxable income to individual recipients and reportable to the IRS. Grantees will receive a 1099 from NEFA if total payments exceed the minimum requirements set by the IRS within a calendar year. (Currently, the minimum requirement is $600.)

Requirements & Reports for Grant Recipients

A complete grantee report is due 40 days after the professional development opportunity is completed.

Grantees who do not submit a complete grantee report on time will not be eligible to apply for another Public Art Learning Fund grant until the grantee report is submitted and approved.

Click below to log in and begin your grantee report. You may save and return at any time.
START YOUR GRANT REPORT

CONTACT:

Kim Szeto
(she/her/hers)
Program Director, Public Art
kszeto@nefa.org
617-865-1840

Kamaria Carrington
(they/them/theirs)
Program Coordinator, Public Art
kcarrington@nefa.org
617-865-1837

NEFA accepts grant applications via an online form. If you require an alternate format or assistance to access the application, please contact:
Jane Preston
Interim Accessibility Coordinator
jpreston@nefa.org
617-865-1835

Franklin Cultural Council - Apply for Grants by November 16th

The Franklin Cultural Council (FCC) has set a November 16th deadline for organizations, schools, and individuals to apply for grants that support cultural activities in the community. This funding encourages individuals, groups and not-for-profit organizations to bring to the community unique programming that centers around the arts, humanities, history or interpretive sciences for children, adults or intergenerational groups.

While the focus of the proposals should remain similar to past years—community-oriented arts, humanities, and science programs—this year the FCC is encouraging new applicants to apply. All grant applications are due by Monday, November 16th. Proposals that are past the deadline will not be considered. Log on to https://www.mass-culture.org/Franklin for grant guidelines and to apply.

The Franklin Cultural Council is part of a network of 329 Local Cultural Councils serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities every year. The state legislature provides an annual appropriation to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, which then allocates funds to each community.

Seeing Red, Feeling Blue - Work by Nanette Vonnegut and Jennifer McCandless

Seeing Red, Feeling Blue
Work by Nanette Vonnegut and Jennifer McCandless
November 10 - December 13, 2020

A.P.E. 126 Main Street Northampton, MA 
Gallery Open Hours: Tuesday - Thursday, 12-5 pm; Friday, 12-8 pm; Saturday & Sunday, 12-5 pm; Closed Monday. Visitors may also request a visit by appointment.

Contact: lisathompson@apearts.org or meredithbove@apearts.org

Guidelines for visitors during COVID: Masks and hand sanitizing required, physical distancing, limit of 8 visitors at a time.

Artist Statement
Jennifer McCandless and I met in the spring, 2017, at The Loomis Chaffee School, where I was an artist in residence. As the head of the art department, it was Jen’s job to find out how I might be useful to the students there, which involved showing examples of my work. Shortly after that Jen gave me a tour of her studio. We quickly recognized something kindred in our work, dark undertows hiding under flowery scenes and cartoonish figures. There was laughing involved and, as artists, a very real connection. Before I left Loomis Chaffee, we knew we would find a way to show our work together. The idea that it would be fun was no small part in our thinking.

Thankfully, A.P.E. agreed, well before the pandemic hit us. Jen and I have chosen to not share everything we’ve been working on these past many months, trusting the thread of our connection would be there, as it was from the beginning. Jen recently told me she was feeling blue and it was affecting her work. How my work is being affected isn’t exactly clear, but there is a lot of red and fire in it, which might suggest anger. I’ll go with anger. What is certain for the both of us is that making art saves us from despair. Letting humor take a lead, in all its shades, is our way of taking shelter from the storms and ambient grief all around us.

A.P.E.
126 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060
413.586.5553
www.apearts.org