Last updated: 10/16/24

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.

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Our goal is to create stability amongst small food businesses, restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, taverns, and bars.

Over the course of 12 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
much more.

The Re-FRESH Program Application closed on September 20, 2024. If you have any questions about the Program, please contact the Office of Small Business at smallbiz@boston.gov or

617-635-0355.

RE-FRESH PROGRAM INFORMATION

Program Information

Re-FRESH Program Eligibility and Application

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). Search your address using this map to check your eligibility.
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.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Businesses must submit a complete application by September 20, 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: 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