Natick Business Buzz (sponsored by LINX): $51M in grants at stake; take a trip to Bountiful; Uni-T is at one with Cultural District; Eastern Insurance grows; Natick Mall will hold your spot

$51M in grants at stake—but act fast

The state has made $50.8 million in grants available to support small businesses and their employees, families and communities. Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) will be administering these funds to businesses experiencing economic hardship and a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The applications are only open until Nov. 12 at noon. 

Preference will be given to small businesses whose owners are women, minorities, veterans, and members of other underrepresented groups are focused on serving the Gateway Cities of Massachusetts (that doesn’t include Natick), and those most negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Preference will also be given to applicants that have not been able to receive aid from other federal programs related to COVID-19.

Bountiful Farms open for business

You won’t find a pumpkin patch at this newest Natick farm. Bountiful Farms opens on Oct. 22 and is selling medical marijuana at 13 Mercer Rd., which parallels Rte. 9 East.

We thought maybe there would at least be some pumpkin spice on the menu, but nope. Garlic, grape, watermelon and plenty of other flavors are available though.

Recreational pot shops have yet to get the go-ahead in Natick, but several candidates are currently vying for town approval to open for business.

Uni-T unites with Natick Center

Uni-T, a combined art gallery, T-shirt and gift shop, has opened on Court Street in Natick Center. Multitalented owner Eujin Kim Neilan has her studio in the back of the shop, which features her own illustrated children’s books, hand-printed T-shirts and other creations, plus those of other local artists.

Hours: Wed. – Sat., 10am -5pm

Insurance acquisition

Eastern Insurance Group, Natick-based subsidiary of Eastern Bank, has acquired the assets of 38-year-old Auburn Insurance Agency, a family-owned insurance agency that specializes in complex commercial insurance coverage program placement and management.

This marks the 31^st acquisition for Eastern Insurance since 2002. Wow.

Natick Mall holding your spot

Natick Mall is touting an online tool called Spot Holder to help you ensure that you can visit the shops you’re interested in, instead of getting frozen out when there’s a line. Scan the code at a participating retailer (only 4 are participating as of this writing), or planning ahead by visiting this link. Of course, on the 70-degree Thursday afternoon during which we checked, there were no lines being shown anyway…

Got business news to share? Email us the details: natickreport@gmail.com