Mayor Dorinda Borer and the city’s Economic Development Commission presented the first forum of its kind for small-business owners at West Haven High School on Tuesday, June 11. With more than 100 business owners in attendance, the forum consisted of speakers from local, state, and federal agencies sharing the resources available for businesses to thrive.
As part of the program, Borer launched the city’s new ARPA Small Business Grant program. Small businesses that apply for a grant can receive up to $10,000 for facade improvements or HVAC and outdoor dining upgrades. The grant program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.
Eleven speakers, including Borer, gave business owners “high-level information” on available grants, loans and technical support through PowerPoint presentations on a range of topics to support better economic outcomes for small businesses.
Some of the speakers wereMoraima Gutierrez, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s deputy district director for Connecticut; Val Gomez, the Connecticut Small Business Development Center’s business advisor; Larry Rush, the conservation and load management manager of residential for United Illuminating’s parent company, Avangrid; Sheila Hummel, the state Department of Economic and Community Development’s director of small business, among others.