AMHERST — Businesses facing dire financial effects from the COVID-19 pandemic could be in line for grants up to $10,000 from supplemental Community Development Block Grant money the town is set to receive.
As a mini-entitlement community, Amherst is eligible to apply for up to $400,000 that can be used to establish a microenterprise assistance program for businesses with five or fewer employees, one of whom owns the business, and for supporting public social service programs that keep people fed, prevent homelessness and provide job training for healthcare workers and technicians.
The CDBG Advisory Committee will hold a public hearing Wednesday at 4 p.m. to hear activity proposals from agencies and organizations submitted the previous day, receive comments and suggestions about these proposals and to hear additional comments about the federal CARES Act, which is the source of the money that is going to the Department of Housing and Community Development.
“In order to help the town and committee review proposals, we are asking agencies that are proposing an activity to write a two- to three-page activity description that meets the criteria outlined by DHCD, and to include a budget of the proposed activity,” Senior Planner Nathaniel Malloy said.
The town has a June 5 submission deadline.
DHCD is also providing emergency rental and mortgage assistance, coordinating this with the existing Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program, or RAFT Program
To join the hearing, go to https://amherstma.zoom.us/j/93320997117
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
