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Cambridge outlines $9 million+ in pandemic relief and ongoing small‑business supports
Summary
City staff reviewed technical assistance, grants and commercial‑district programs for small businesses, highlighted post‑pandemic trends and warned some federal funding and reimbursement rules limit program flexibility.
Cambridge’s Economic Opportunity and Development division told the City Council committee on Thursday that it awarded more than $9,000,000 in CARES, CDBG and ARPA funding to roughly 900 small businesses and business associations between 2020 and 2024 and is now shifting toward longer‑term technical assistance, succession planning and district activation programs.
The update, presented by Pardis Cifani, economic development staff, outlined three pillars of support — technical assistance, financial assistance and advocacy — and emphasized the division’s continued work on storefront improvements, ecommerce, accessibility and mentorship as businesses recover from pandemic impacts.
“During that four‑year period we gave a little over $9,000,000 in CARES, CDBG, and ARPA funding to small business owners and business associations,” Cifani said, noting more than 900 businesses received emergency support. She told the committee that many businesses lacked tax returns or profit‑and‑loss statements…
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