Braintree Mayor Announces Small Business Grant Program

News release from Town of Braintree.

BRAINTREE, MA — Mayor Charles C. Kokoros is proud to announce his commitment to allocating $300,000 from an Economic Development Earmark from Chapter 268 of the Acts of 2022 Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (CSFRF) administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development. Braintree-based businesses with a physical presence will have the opportunity to access grants of up to $5,000. These grants are designed to empower businesses in enhancing their infrastructure, streamlining operations, and bolstering their digital capabilities by offering financial assistance for professional services, training, digital assets, or equipment procurement.

Eligible projects encompass a range of improvements, including:

• Storefront enhancements (windows, façade, signage, entrance upgrades)
• Interior improvements (lighting, displays, security, electrical, plumbing, HVAC)
• Equipment acquisition (kitchen, salon, etc.)
• Technological upgrades
  • Capital expenditures to enhance Digital Capabilities (laptops, computers, tablets, Point of Sale or inventory management systems)
  • Software investments (Graphic Design, Financial/Bookkeeping, POS/CRM, Productivity/Team Collaboration, Social Media/SEO/Marketing, Cybersecurity)
• Marketing (menus, websites, rebranding), and fees for Qualified Professional Services/Consultants, such as Designers (Graphic/Motion), Digital Marketing Strategists, Social Media Strategists, Website/Content Developers, POS Implementation Specialists, Photographers, and Writers.

"Drawing on my three decades of experience as a small business owner, I understand the challenges that small businesses face and their pressing demands for capital and technological upgrades. I recognize the immense value that a $5,000 grant can bring to our local entrepreneurs. We are committed to the success of our local small businesses and this grant program is an opportunity to assist them." said Mayor Kokoros.

The program is currently in the process of finalizing its guidelines, which will outline applicant and project eligibility, scoring criteria, and language services to simplify the grant application process. Technical assistance, including language translation, will be available for businesses needing help completing the grant forms.