The City saw overwhelming interest in the grant program, with over $1.5 million in grant requests from 114 applications across the city, all submitted in just one week.
The Prime the Pump Program was initially announced on March 18, 2020. With these awards, the city has now awarded 106 emergency grants to businesses in two rounds of Prime the Pump. The first round of the program awarded 30 grants to restaurants while the second round was open to businesses of all types. Between the two programs, the city has now awarded over $725,000 in grants to Springfield businesses.
“These many a times family run restaurants and small businesses are often the lifeblood of our neighborhood commercial districts and our community and we need to support them the best we can in this time of need. We have responded to our small business community by infusing this capital when they need it most and are hopeful that these grants will be a shot in the arm while they are awaiting for additional business assistance from state and federal sources,” said Mayor Sarno. “These businesses not only represent employment for our residents but they are vital to the health of our neighborhood commercial districts. The Prime the Pump Program is grass roots neighborhood economic development which seeks to ensure that these local businesses continue to stay in business”
The grants prioritized businesses that are still open and operating at some level, and were scored and ranked by a committee based on scoring criteria provided to each applicant and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development programmatic guidelines.
“These dollars are critical to these businesses as a bridge as many await federal Small Business Administration resources to become available,” said Mr. Sheehan. “We’re happy to have been able to help so many businesses with these grants, and do realize there still remains unmet need for so many businesses that are currently closed, but hope to reopen soon.”
The funding for this program is provided through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG Funding) from the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). All awards are pending each business successfully completing the contracting process.
The city expects to continue to offer new programs in the future as funding becomes available, which will be posted when available on the city’s website at www.springfield-ma.gov.
The tentative awards subject to contract execution are listed below.
Prime the Pump – Round TWO Grant Awards
Typical Sicilian $15,000
S-Cel-O Painting $15,000
Jackson Security $15,000
La Fiorentina Pastry Shop $10,000
Ayala Enterprise $10,000
West Indian Taste $10,000
Drive – Ins Of MA/Sonic $10,000
Five Star Cleaners $10,000
Crispy’s and Wings $10,000
Gino’s Pizza and Grill $10,000
Subway of Downtown Springfield $10,000
Golden Heart Home Healthcare $10,000
Family Pizza Europa $10,000
Pete’s Daily Food Cuisine $10,000
Hola Restaurant $10,000
NASH Manufacturing $10,000
Broadway Office Interiors $10,000
Bumpy’s Natural and Organic Foods $10,000
Elegant Affairs $10,000
Assarian Electric Company $10,000
Youth on the Move $10,000
Interstate Mart $10,000
Granny’s Baking Table $10,000
Souper Sweet Sandwich Shop $10,000
Khi & Eli’s Food for the Soul $10,000
White Lion Brewing Company $10,000
Café Christo $10,000
AC Produce $10,000
NK First Co./Nadim’s $10,000
Nathan Bills $10,000
Chernick Law $7,500
MindWing Concepts $7,500
Moctezumas Mexican Restaurant $7,500
Vargo Law $7,500
Mom & Rico’s $7,500
Quartz Eye Care $7,500
L&J Linen $7,500
AW Gifford, Inc. $7,500
Panjabi Tadka $5,000
John J. Leahy Law $5,000
Palazzo Café $5,000
Home Logic Real Estate $5,000
Howard Motors of Springfield $5,000
Palate Restaurant $5,000
Wingz & Wafflez $5,000
L-A Auto Sales and Repair $5,000
Two Guys Pizza $5,000
BusinessWest, Inc. $5,000
LWYRE Enterprises $4,000
Buckeye Brothers $2,500
Mi Antojito $2,500
Quick Pic Convenience $2,500
Springfield’s Great Escape $2,500
JDL Financial $2,500
Lorilil Jewelers $2,500
Lyndale Garage $2,500
JLJ Construction, Inc. $2,500
Alfa-fac, Inc. $2,500
Action Chiropractic $2,500
Stappa Gap Restaurant $2,500
Tony’s Pizza $2,500
CopyCat Print Shop $2,500
Tech Automotive $2,500
Soul Pole Dance and Fitness $2,500
El Morro Bakery $2,500
Chase Glass $2,500
Awards Company $2,500
Cederstone Management $2,500
City Cleaners $2,500
Salerno’s Pizzeria $2,500
Cedar’s Food Mart $2,500
Fratelli’s $2,500
Berkshire Auto $2,500
Friendly Market $2,500
Miguel Towing $2,500
La Mexicana Supermarket $2,500