Small Business

In an interview for the WBJ Podcast, bankHometown President and CEO Robert Morton said the Oxford-based bank already had 250 loans totaling about $15 million lined up for when the second round of Paycheck Protection Program.

As the second round of Paycheck Protection Program funding is starting to be dispersed, bankHometown has 250 loans totaling about $15 million from customers who missed out on the first round.

A coalition of 74 organizations is asking the state to develop a small business relief and recovery program that would focus on the operations that are most vulnerable during the COVID-19 crisis, including those owned by immigrants, women and people of color and those located in rural areas, gateway cities and low-income areas.

The necessity of staying far apart from others has become clear to restaurateurs that habits will likely change long after dine-in eating returns.

Four multigenerational Central Mass. businesses owners underscore the importance of mixing up both their goods and their services, as well as an overwhelming willingness to adapt to customer requests and market demands.

Five Central Mass. business owners will be honored during National Small Business week, as part of their receiving a number of Massachusetts small business owner of the year awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The U.S. Small Business Administration approved 509 Economic Injury Disaster Loans for businesses dealing with COVID-19 fallout in Massachusetts, according to an April 20 update.

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved an extra $320 billion in funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, the original $349-billion forgiveable loan program for small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, which ran out of money after less than two weeks.

The Worcester Railers Hockey Club will purchase $1,000 worth of gift cards each to 36 Central Mass. businesses, as part of a small business stimulus power play program, the organization announced in a press release on Monday.

Ten days after the $349-billion program launch, a small percentage of businesses who applied for coronavirus relief funds under the federal Paycheck Protection Program have received the funds, according to a new national crowdsourcing tracker set up by a Miami entrepreneur couple.