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

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...

Let’s Work Together to put Food on Essex County Tables

A Statement From Essex County Community Foundation Starting tomorrow, nearly 140,000 residents across Essex County, many of them children, seniors and residents with disabilities, are likely to lose their SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown. Putting food on...

ECCF elects three new community leaders to its board of trustees

Beverly, MA -- Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF), an organization that brings people together to strengthen the 34 cities and towns of Essex County, is pleased to announce that Dr. Erin F. Heiskell, nonprofit leader Derek A. Mitchell and attorney Brendan L. ...

North Shore Community College

This year, North Shore Community College is celebrating six decades of building futures and changing lives. “For 60 years, this has been a place of opportunity,” said William Heineman, who has served as president of NSCC, one of the oldest community colleges in...

ECCF announces first round of funding from Community Response Fund

$500,000 in flexible funding is awarded to nonprofits filling essential needs in Essex County For Catie’s Closet – a nonprofit that supports approximately 13,000 Lawrence Public School students by providing year-round access to free clothing, toiletries and hygiene...