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.

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

LEADS and ECCF partner to launch new Echo Fellowship for Merrimack Valley leaders

A cohort of high-impact leaders from across the Merrimack Valley has been selected to participate in a new program designed to help build a stronger, more connected region ready to tackle the area’s most pressing challenges. The new Echo Fellowship is run by LEADS – a...

A new cohort of creative leaders set to elevate art in local communities

ECCF graduates class of Creative County Changemakers; seeks applicants for next session to begin in March When Tori Darnell, co-chair of the Saugus Cultural Council, first moved to Saugus, her 5-year-old son had a question for her while they were exploring their new...

ECCF And Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund announce new partnership

Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF), an organization that sparks generosity and collaboration to address the region’s greatest needs, announced today that it is partnering with the Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund to expand opportunities for donors to...

Essex County Community Foundation launches new Veterans Fund

Initial investments to three local organizations signal the start to long-term support for the region’s veterans Beverly, Mass, Nov. 7, 2025 – Eleven percent of the state’s 230,000 veterans live right here in Essex County. With Veterans Day around the corner, Essex...

ECCF Releases $100,000 for Frontline Food Service Providers

As delays and reductions in SNAP funding continue to impact community members and nonprofit organizations across the region, Essex County Community Foundation announced today that we are distributing $100,000 in funding from the Essex County Community Response Fund to...