National Grid offers $1K grants to help small businesses pay utility bills

Photo | Grant Welker National Grid is awarding grants for small businesses to help with rising energy costs.

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By Kevin Koczwara

Electric utility National Grid is handing out 1,000 grants of $1,000 each to small businesses in Central Massachusetts as part of its statewide attempt to help soften the blow of the energy cost increases.

National Grid will be delivering $1 million in assistance across Massachusetts, according to its Tuesday press release announcing the small business grants.

Partnerships have been established with the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Retailers Association of Massachusetts, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Restaurant Association to deliver the grants in Central Massachusetts. The four organizations will have $250,000 each to distribute.

“One of RAM's key goals is to provide members with money-saving benefits and services designed to improve their bottom lines,” Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, said in the press release. “With inflation taking a toll on the balance sheets of consumers and small businesses alike, we are proud to partner with National Grid to administer this important initiative.”

National Grid’s small business energy assistance program is part of National Grid’s winter customer savings initiative, which started in the fall of 2022. The initiative is designed to help customers in reducing energy use, balance billing, and connect customers with available energy assistance.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, and the impacts of the global energy crisis are creating real challenges,” Stephen Woerner, president of National Grid, New England, said in the press release. “We recognize some small businesses are struggling this winter, and that’s why we’re stepping up to provide help. We’ve partnered with four outstanding organizations who can assist us in reaching the small business community across Massachusetts and speed the distribution of energy assistance funds to those that need it.”