Re-FRESH Program
The Revitalization of Food Restaurants and Establishments to Stabilize Holistically (Re-FRESH) Program supports brick and mortar businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our goal is to create stability amongst small food businesses, restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, taverns, and bars.
Over the course of eight months, Program participants create a plan to reactivate their business, creating goals to recover from pandemic setbacks. Our office provides wrap-around support services through our technical assistance partners, such as:
- Working one-on-one with a business coach,
- offering support and resources
- creating comprehensive marketing plans
- and more.
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About the Program
Eligible businesses include food businesses, restaurants, bars, taverns, and juice shops. We prioritize businesses that are located in low-to-moderate-income communities. Businesses must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- must employ 30 or fewer individuals, including the business owner
- must earn no more than $3 million in annual revenue
- must have faced an economic hardship directly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. This could include, but is not limited to:
- declines in revenues or business closures due to the pandemic
- greater difficulty accessing credit than prior to the pandemic
- increased costs to starting the business due to the pandemic
- lost expected startup capital due to the pandemic
- must have a commercial or mobile space in the City of Boston (home-based businesses are not eligible)
- If deemed necessary by the Small Business office, must complete the necessary Re-FRESH Program workshops/trainings.
- must be in Good Standing with the City of Boston, with no back taxes owed on property, personal property, or motor excise
Businesses can receive up to $15,000. Small Business may award full funding, partial funding, or no funding.
Important Dates:
- Second round grant application launch: Thursday, June 13, 2024
- Info session: (To be determined)
- Second round application deadline: Friday, July 26, 2024
Apply for the Second Round
Application Requirements
Businesses must submit a complete application by July 26, 2024.
Businesses should be prepared to provide the following documents:
- Valid certificate of occupancy (as appropriate)
- Valid business certificate from the City of Boston OR your 2023 or 2024 annual report for your Massachusetts state-registered corporation
- Budget template provided in application
- Letter of community support from a neighborhood or community group (OPTIONAL)
- Copy of 2023 IRS filing for business tax
- Valid Supplier ID
Please note that funds cannot be used for owner's salary but can be used for employees' salaries
General Program Policies
- Grant funds must be used only in association with business establishments located within the city of Boston
- Grant funds are awarded to a business, not to an individual
- Applicants should read the full terms and conditions of this grant
- Food businesses in Qualified Census Tracts will be prioritized, but all are welcome to apply
Round One Awardees
The first round of awardees received grants ranging from $2,500 to $13,000. They represent 18 neighborhoods. Awardees are as follows:
- 2TWENTY2
- ADK Sandwich Shop
- Ariana Restaurant
- Blue Mountain Jamaican Restaurant
- Bonne Chance Cafe
- Bono Restaurant and Catering
- BRASIL BRAZIL
- BRED
- Butterfly Falafel
- CAFE CORNER
- Cafe Iterum
- Cape Verde Taste
- Caramelo Bakery & Cafe
- CHARLIE'S SANDWICH SHOPPE
- Chill on Park
- Coco Leaf
- Comfort Kitchen
- CRISPY DOUGH PIZZERIA
- D'Guru
- dbar
- Don Tequeno y Dona Arepa
- DORA TAQUERIA
- Drydock Cafe
- Holly Crab
- Huong Que Vietnamese Restaurant
- Koy
- L’Osteria
- LA TERRAZA
- Las Delicias Colombianas 2
- Las Palmas Restaurant
- Love Art Sushi
- Madhouse Cafe
- MAXINE'S ON SAINT JAMES
- MELODIAS
- Mexicali Sushi Bar
- MI PUEBLITO ORIENT HEIGHTS
- Mi Pueblito Restaurant
- MI RANCHO
- Model Cafe
- Montecristo
- North Street Grille
- Oasis Restaurant
- Papi's Stuffed Sopapillas
- PeKa Restaurant
- Perros Paisas
- Pizzeria Rustico
- Restaurante Cesaria
- rinconcito salvadoreno
- Rootastes
- Roundhead Brewing Company
- Savvor Restaurant and Lounge
- Solid Ground Cafe
- spicy world
- Sweet Kingdom
- Tacos Calleteco
- Tasty Pot
- TERTULIAS CAFE
- The Jamaican Hummingbird Restaurant
- The Koji Club
- Top Mix Bar & Kitchen
- Tu Metapan Restaurant
- Vasquez restaurant
- We Grow Microgreens
- Wens Noodle
- Woodys Grill & Tap
- Zaz
Who's Involved:
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Have questions? Contact:
