COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 Resources

The FCCDC is here to help you and your business navigate the COVID-19 crisis. Our team of industry experts and partners have worked to build the following list of resources. This list will be updated periodically to reflect changes and additions. The FCCDC staff are working remotely, please contact us via email.

Resources for Food and Farm Businesses

From the FCCDC: The FCCDC is available to assist you to review, explore options and develop next steps. Contact Kate Venne, Food Business Coordinator, at katev@fccdc.org or Pioneer Valley Grows Investment Fund (PVGIF) Manager Rebecca Busansky at rebeccab@fccdc.org for more information The FCCDC continues to accept loan applications.  https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/FranklinCountyCommunityDevelo/ApplicationForm.html Flexible loans to farm and food businesses - Pioneer Valley Grows Investment Fund  https://www.pvgrows.net/investment-fund/for-entrepreneurs/ Mass Food Trust Program - grants and loans to food retailers to help supply healthy food to low-income communities https://massfoodtrustprogram.org/ The FCCDC is available to help assemble loan applications to other lenders (SBA, MGCC & banks). The FCCDC and our partners are compiling a resource list that gets updated regularly: https://bit.ly/WMassBusinessResources The FCCDC and our regional collaborations with other service providers are providing relevant training and informational webinars for you. We all continue to add webinars to this link. Please keep it and check regularly to see if there is something that you can benefit from.  Guide to shopping local farms Others: Massachusetts Small Business Development Center: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1-2pm weekly webinars on important topics for business owners. CommonWealth Kitchen: Running a Food Business in the face of COVID-19, Resource Guide American Farmland Trust: Farmers who are affected by market losses due to the virus, can apply for $1,000 to ease their immediate financial concerns. You can find more information about the application here: https://farmland.org/farmer-relief-fund/ MA Dept. of Agriculture: https://www.mass.gov/guides/covid-19-resources-for-agriculture MA Food System Collaborative: https://mafoodsystem.org/resources/resourcehome/covid19/ Farm to Institution New England: COVID-19 Matchmaking: Institutional food, resources, labor, technical assistance CISA: Emergency Farm Fund  Read the CISA press release.

Resources for All Businesses

From the FCCDC: The FCCDC is available to assist you and your business to review, explore options and develop next steps. Contact Amy Shapiro, Business Development Director, at amys@fccdc.org to schedule a virtual appointment. The FCCDC continues to accept loan applications.  https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/FranklinCountyCommunityDevelo/ApplicationForm.html The FCCDC is available to help assemble loan applications to other lenders (SBA, MGCC & banks). The FCCDC and our partners are compiling a resource list that gets updated regularly: https://bit.ly/WMassBusinessResources The FCCDC and our regional collaborations with other service providers are providing relevant training and informational webinars for you. We all continue to add webinars to this link. Please keep it and check regularly to see if there is something that you can benefit from. Microenterprise Grants available for Franklin County Businesses learn more. Other: Massachusetts Small Business Development Center: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1-2pm weekly webinars on important topics United States Small Business Administration: CARES Act Paycheck Protection Loan Program  PPP -- Overview United States Centers for Disease Control: Resuming Business Toolkit Microenterprise COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Program: If your business is located in Franklin County, please click here to apply, or email micro@fccdc.org with questions. View the Family Income Form to see income limits. If your business is located in North Adams, please click here to apply, or email micro@fccdc.org with questions. View the Family Income form to see income limits. Other COVID funding for businesses in: Agawam, Easthampton, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, South Hadley, Southampton, Southwick or Westhampton. Administered by Valley CD: https://www.valleycdc.com/small-business-assistance/covid-small-business-relief-program/ Ashfield, Blandford, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Plainfield, Williamsburg and Worthington. Administered by Hilltown CDC: https://www.hilltowncdc.org/microenterprise-relief Athol, Phillipston, Templeton, and Winchendon Administered by NewVue:  https://newvuecommunities.org/aptwmap/

General and Partner Resources

Franklin County Chamber of Commerce COVID-19: Special Hours and Services for Franklin County Businesses Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA): Resources for COVID-19 Common Good  offers and needs board The board is there, it’s free, and ready to be used by many more people. It’s simple, and anyone can use it. Massachusetts Nonprofit Network Resources for Mass Nonprofits

General information about COVID-19

United States Center for Disease Control COVID-19 Information We are building a Small Business Grant Fund, if you are interested in contributing please contact John Waite at johnw@fccd.org. From State of Massachusetts: When can your business reopen Mandatory reopening safety standards for workplaces Sector specific protocols and best practices for reopening

Cybersecurity

Factsheet Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Fact Sheet Cyber Readiness Institute Ransomware Guidance and Resources Non-profit for Free Small Business Digital SafetyNet National Cybersecurity Center Preparing for Cybersecurity Attack