NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — North Adams businesses are being encouraged to fill out an online survey designed to guide the use of state grant funds.

 

The fiscal 2018 MassWorks Infrastructure grant had initially been focused on helping small business find its customers online through social media marketing but has since morphed in light of the novel coronavirus pandemic. 

 

The North Adams Wayfinding Project will now assist businesses with finding resources in this dramatically changed economic environment. 

 

Many smaller businesses have been fully or partially closed since mid-March by order of the governor to help contain the spread of the highly contagious COVID-19. 

 

The survey takes about 5 minutes and asks business about their current status, past and future employment needs, if they plan to reopen and what their technical and training needs will be, such as legal or financial strategies or training on new platforms or social media.

 

The project's coordinators are asking business owners or managers to take the survery "so we can better understand how to communicate with you and how to better serve you during this time."

 

Some 300 local businesses should have received a postcard with survey information. The survey link can also be found here along with other business resources. 

 

Businesses are asked to complete the survey before the end of May.

 

This project, funded through the MassWorks Infrastructure Grant Program through the State Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, is a partnership between the North Adams, the North Adams Chamber of Commerce and the Franklin County Community Development Corp. Its first project had been a training