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
Creative County ALAANA Grants Application Open Jan. 1
Danvers, MA --- Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) is pleased to announce a new round of grants designed to support artists who have been historically and systemically denied access to resources that empower them to create and share their work. Applications for...
Community Business Loans in Lynn and Salem support entrepreneurs and help communities thrive
By Michelle Xiarhos Curran Mabelyn Lopez is knowledgeable and passionate about insurance; she’s been in the business for 26 years. “As many different agencies as I’ve worked for, something was missing,” she said. “One day I woke up and I said, ‘I’m going to open up an...
ACP, state digital equity programs focus of countywide Digital Equity Coalition
By Michelle Xiarhos Curran ECCF Communications Writer Three quarters of respondents to a recent poll conducted by Essex County Community Foundation indicated that they were interested in applying to new digital equity programming offered by the Massachusetts Broadband...
Five Things to Discuss with Your Advisor About Giving
We know that for many people, the most important thing about charitable giving is the positive difference their gift makes on the organizations and communities they are inspired to support. But ECCF is here to offer some tips that can help make your giving both...
The Top 10 Charitable Trends Every Advisor Should Know
ECCF gathers local advisors for engaging presentation with gift planning expert Bryan Clontz By Michelle Xiarhos Curran ECCF Communications Writer With just a few weeks left until the start of 2023, professional advisors are busy working with their clients on year-end...
crisis response
get in touch
Stratton Lloyd
Executive Vice President & COO
978-777-8876 x126
s.lloyd@eccf.org
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
GET IN TOUCH
- 175 Andover Street, Suite 101
Danvers, Massachusetts 01923
QUICK LINKS
ECCF's Tax ID # 04-3407816