Douglas, MA - Economic Development Commission

11/14/2024

04/12/2021

Are you feeling like it's time to get involved? The Douglas Economic Development Commission has an open seat. We meet monthly on the second Wednesday at 7:00pm.

Our primary purpose is to foster economic development and growth in Douglas. We do this by facilitating conversations between local land owners and developers to form equitable arrangements that benefit the community.

This is a selectman appointed position with a term of 3 years.

If this sounds like something you're into - let us know, we are meeting this coming Wednesday 4/14.

02/01/2021

This $10,000 grant opportunity is open for businesses in Douglas (Northbridge and Webster). Applications are open until February 8 2021.

All relevant application information can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qOiK0tQ5X7FJXur2uVV5kM1ACTIktFJW?usp=sharing

01/05/2021

There's a grant available to provide assistance to small businesses impacted by covid 19. Applications are open until 1/15. Please pass the information along to anyone that might need it! Thank you!

PLEASE SHARE!

The Governor announced a new $668 million program to provide financial assistance to Massachusetts small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Detailed eligibility and application information are available here.

https://www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/covid-19-response/sector-specific-relief-grant-program-massachusetts-businesses

The application period will open tomorrow, Thursday, December 31st at 12pm and will close on Friday January 15th at 11:59PM

10/28/2020

Some relief for small businesses! Be sure to check the requirements and see if your small business is eligible! Applications are open until 11/12

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made $50.8 million in grants available to support small businesses, microenterprises, and their employees, families and communities. Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) will be administering these funds to businesses experiencing economic hardship an...

09/11/2020

EDC MESSAGE TO THE VOTERS

IT SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY, A PROP 2 ½ OVERRIDE PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AT ONE OF OUR ANNUAL TOWN MEETINGS, HOWEVER, THAT OVERRIDE BARELY PASSED BY BALLOT ON THE FOLLOWING ELECTION DAY.

THE VOTERS MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR DURING THAT PROP 2 ½ OVERRIDE TIME PERIOD THAT THE TOWN OF DOUGLAS MUST INCREASE ITS COMMERCIAL TAX BASE, TO RELIEVE THE HEAVY BURDEN OF THE RESIDENTIAL TAX BASE.

IT IS TO BE NOTED, THE CURRENT COMMERCIAL TAX BASE REVENUE IN DOUGLAS STANDS AT 4%. MOST SURROUNDING TOWNS ENJOY A MUCH HIGHER COMMERCIAL TAX BASE PERCENTAGE.

SINCE THAT PROP 2 ½ OVERRIDE, YOUR EDC HAS BEEN VIGOROUSLY WORKING TO INCREASE THE COMMERCIAL TAX BASE, ENTERTAINING ANY BUSINESS WHICH APPROACHES US, THEN WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH THOSE THAT WOULD BE A SUITABLE FIT IN DOUGLAS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS, THE EDC HAS HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH CANNABIS CULTIVATORS OF ALL SIZES, FROM 1,000 SF TO 1M SF (AND EVERY SIZE IN BETWEEN), CANNABIS RETAILERS, AUTO AUCTION COMPANIES, CAR WASH FRANCHISES, TRUCK HOISTING GROUND SCHOOLS, LARGE COMMERCIAL SOLAR PANEL COMPANIES, NATURAL GAS SUPPLIERS, AND LATELY, VERY LARGE DISTRIBUTION TYPE WAREHOUSES.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE EDC HAS BEEN ACTIVELY DOING ITS PART. IN FACT, AT THE RECENT AUGUST 18TH BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING, AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE BY LOBISSER BUILDING CORP TO BUILD A 1M SF WAREHOUSE IN THE MCINTYRE GRAVEL PIT OFF NORTHEAST MAIN STREET, ALONG WITH A NEW ACCESS ROAD TO GILBOA STREET AND A NEW BRIDGE TO CROSS THE MUMFORD RIVER.

THERE ARE SEVERAL ARTICLES ON THE UPCOMING SEPTEMBER 12TH ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT WHICH “WARRANT” YOUR ATTENTION. THESE ARTICLES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A LARGE WAREHOUSE PROJECT AND CAN EASILY DOUBLE THE COMMERCIAL TAX BASE, ONLY IF THESE ARTICLES ON THE TOWN WARRANT ARE APPROVED BY THE VOTERS. EDC NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT.

FUTURE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WILL GENERATE BADLY NEEDED COMMERCIAL TAX REVENUE.

BOB MINARIK
EDC VICE-CHAIRMAN

06/26/2020

A pertinent note from our friends at Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission - CMRPC relating to small businesses in Douglas.

Dear Community Partners:

The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) is administering a grant assistance program to small businesses in Central Massachusetts impacted by the closure and losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant program is funded by the Massachusetts Office of Attorney General Maura Healey, through the Small Business Relief Partnership Grant Program. CMRPC was awarded $45,000 to distribute funds to small businesses in Central Massachusetts.

Applications are now being accepted on a rolling basis through the Central Massachusetts Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program, administered by CMRPC. We need your assistance in spreading the message to our region's local small businesses.

For the purposes of this grant, a “small business” shall mean any for-profit business or non-profit organization with a physical place of business within one of the forty communities within the CMRPC service area with twenty or fewer employees prior to Governor Baker’s state of emergency declaration (on or about March 10, 2020). All applicants will be required to demonstrate a direct or indirect financial hardship resulting from COVID-19.

For more information on eligibility and the application itself, visit this link. https://www.cmrpcregionalservices.org/aggrant.

For the press release, visit this page.

For any inquiries please contact either me or my colleague Ron Barron, [email protected].

Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission One Mercantile Street, Suite 520 Worcester, MA 01608 Phone 508.756.7717 Fax 508.792.6818

06/10/2020

Douglas is preparing a Town's CARES ACT grant application to DHCD for funding to assist local businesses. This is related to the COVID-19 impact. We have been requested to have our local businesses complete this short on-line survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Douglasbiz

Your participation in this is important to our success with this grant.

Unfortunately this is time-sensitive and we need your response ASAP. Although the survey indicates June 9 is the deadline, it is still open.

Respectfully, Paul Peterson - Douglas EDC

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

02/07/2020

The Town of Douglas Economic Development Commission is always on the lookout for opportunities to facilitate discussions that may jumpstart our economic development.

If you or someone you know owns 50+ acres in town and you're interested in seeing what it could turn into, we would love to explore the possibilities with you! Reach out to us!

Thanks,

Douglas EDC.