merrimack valley

business relief and

resiliency

The September 2018 gas crisis in the Merrimack Valley caused total disruption to the business community. Nearly 850 businesses were forced to close, thousands of employees lost their jobs and nearly two years later, the impacts of the crisis continue to challenge the local economy.

A broad coalition, including ECCF, responded quickly to address the acute challenges of the impacted businesses. Their immediate advocacy resulted in Columbia Gas providing $10 million to support the recovery and rebuilding of the local economy. The coalition continues working today to create resiliency and growth in the region.

Learn more about their efforts to date.

    Responding to COVID-19

    Today, the coalition continues to mobilize, collaborate and expand to address the pandemic’s impact on small businesses. The coalition has pivoted to work to support thousands of businesses with:

    • Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan support
    • acquisition and dissemination of personal protective equiptment (PPE) required to reopen
    • broad and deep technical assistance for the business most impacted across the Merrimack Valley

    merrimack valley small business coalition

    • City of Lawrence
    • Town of Andover
    • Town of North Andover
    • Essex County Community Foundation
    • Lawrence Partnership
    • EforAll/EparaTodos
    • Mill Cities Community Investments
    • Merrimack Valley Workforce Investment Board / MassHire
    • Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation
    • Assistance from state and federal delegations

    september 2020 update report

    business relief news

    A Community Foundation is Born

    By Michelle Xiarhos Curran ECCF COMMUNICATIONS WRITER Like many origin stories, the story of how Essex County Community Foundation came to be is filled with challenges and opportunities, obstacles and perseverance. And, just like many worthwhile origin stories, it...

    McLane Middleton

    “When communities thrive, that creates a ripple effect of positive change that can last for generations,” said John Colucci, director at McLane Middleton, a law firm that has been serving the local community for more than 100 years. “As a business, we believe that...

    ECCF marks 25 years of service to Essex County

    Year-long celebration to culminate with anniversary event at Danversport in November Danvers, MA --- Twenty-five years ago, in 1999, a small organization founded the previous year to help build capacity within Essex County’s nonprofit community officially became Essex...

    crisis response

    get in touch

    Stratton Lloyd headshot

    Stratton Lloyd

    Executive Vice President & COO
    978-777-8876 x126
    s.lloyd@eccf.org

    People purchasing at register at a local shop

    community voices

    “Small businesses are not faint at heart, we are not easily defeated; we’re knocked down; but we’re not out.”

    – Kellee Twadelle,
    Owner, Rose & Dove, North Andover

    ECCF Logo in White Overlay

    GET IN TOUCH

    1. 175 Andover Street, Suite 101
      Danvers, Massachusetts 01923