Somerville – The Downtown Somerville Alliance (DSA) is continuing their advocacy for downtown Somerville businesses with the launch of the DSA Small Business Rebound Fund. Applications for the program will be available for download on their website, DowntownSomerville.com beginning on Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
The program will distribute $50,000 in grant dollars to businesses located within the Special Improvement District who have suffered economic injury due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“We know the economic impact of COVID-19 has been immense,” said Natalie Pineiro, Executive Director of the Downtown Somerville Alliance. “It is the responsibility of district management corporations like the DSA to ensure that we are doing everything we can to put our small businesses back on the road to success.”
Throughout the pandemic, the DSA has worked tirelessly to connect businesses in their district with grant and loan programs, has increased advertising and marketing for the district, and created a dedicated website, somervilleathome.com, to keep patrons up to date with the latest happenings in the burgeoning downtown. The alliance has paid for Parklets to expand outdoor dining for restaurants and even brought on a retail consultant to support recovery efforts, and to get ahead of possible vacancies.
But despite all of the efforts, Pineiro says that there is still a need for direct financial relief.
“Even with the successful reopening of our Main Street, the losses that many of our businesses have suffered have been difficult to recover from,” said Pineiro. “We’re proud to be able to offer a lifeline to a number of businesses and look forward to working together to display Downtown Somerville’s resiliency.”
A packet of information, including parameters, guidelines and submission requirements can be downloaded at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W2SbmxFhA1_QuqvBeXaHVDJ-qHAbYM99/view?usp=sharing or can be emailed/mailed to interested business owners by contacting Pineiro at 908-524-0104 or via email at info@downtownsomerville.com. The deadline to turn in applications is 5:00 p.m. on 11/13/2020.
The Downtown Somerville Alliance is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation. They are the District Management Corporation for Downtown Somerville, NJ – one of New Jersey’s premiere downtowns. The district has become known for its colorful dining scene, flourishing retail, and up and coming arts and culture scene. They promote balanced and progressive economic development and leverage the art of creating experiences that continue to bring a new and diverse population to Somerville. The DSA oversees infrastructure and beautification projects and work with historians and environmentalists alike to maintain and promote the historic charm that is unique to the district.
Visit them online at DowntownSomerville.com or follow them on social media @DowntownSomerville (instagram) and @DowntownSomervilleAlliance (Facebook).
LINK TO APPLICATION: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W2SbmxFhA1_QuqvBeXaHVDJ-qHAbYM99/view?usp=sharing
