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

Nonprofit Connect: A Reimagined Boys & Girls Club of Lynn

ECCF team and fundholders visit construction-in-progress for new state-of-the-art expansion By Michelle Xiarhos Curran ECCF SENIOR WRITER AND CONTENT STRATEGIST On a bright October morning, the thud of hammers and the whirring of buzz saws could be heard up and down...

Essex County Community Foundation celebrates 10 Years of arts, culture and creativity

New exhibit at The Bower at Montserrat showcases a decade of supporting artists, public art and connection Beverly, MA – A new exhibit at The Bower at Montserrat will offer a chance for the public to experience how a decade of philanthropic support for arts and...

At Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, the focus is on patient-centered care

ECCF tours the Center with donors for the September Nonprofit Connect Series site visit By Michelle Xiarhos Curran ECCF SENIOR WRITER In the parking lot across from the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC), Bienvenido “Ben” Gonzalez stands outside one of the...

In response to TPS termination, ECCF steps up resources

By Michelle Xiarhos Curran Senior Writer Increasingly disruptive immigration policies continue to take a toll on individuals, families and communities right here in Essex County. And the recent termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for several countries –...

Six community leaders elected to ECCF’s Board of Trustees

Beverly, MA -- Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF), an organization that sparks generosity and collaboration to address the region’s greatest needs, is pleased to announce that a new group of dynamic and engaged community leaders has recently been elected to its...