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
ECCF’s State of Essex County event draws more than 400 people
New data, Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll keynote and stories of collaboration all highlights of the night By Michelle Xiarhos Curran ECCF Communications Writer In Essex County, cross-sector collaboration is helping residents secure living-wage advanced manufacturing jobs...
Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll will headline ECCF’s ‘State of Essex County’ Event
With strong ties to ECCF’s work, former Salem mayor returns to region to elevate community and collaboration Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, former mayor of Salem, will serve as keynote speaker for Essex County Community Foundation’s State of Essex County event,...
Spring Funders Summit focuses on the changing philanthropic landscape
Center for Effective Philanthropy VP Grace Nicolette highlights positive post-COVID changes By Michelle Xiarhos Curran ECCF COMMUNICATIONS WRITER Recent research by the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) reveals that foundations are working differently than they...
Peabody Essex Museum
Transforming people’s lives through art and culture Peabody Essex Museum sparks curiosity, broadens understanding of the wider world Walking through the doors of the Peabody Essex Museum is like stepping into a living classroom, where in one place, you can be...
Work in Essex County to close the digital divide highlighted at national funders conference
By Michelle Xiarhos Curran ECCF Communications Writer Across the country, funders and foundations are exploring effective ways they can support closing the gap between those with access to digital technology and those without it. The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight...
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