LEWISTON — Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce leaders said Thursday that the group’s Small Business Relief Fund has already distributed its first phase of grants to local businesses affected economically by the Oct. 25  mass shooting that halted commerce for three days.

A statement by the chamber said $89,900 was distributed to 91 eligible applicants in Lewiston, Auburn, Lisbon and Turner, and the second phase of eligible applicants are expected to be notified and receive their funds by Feb. 23.

The first phase of grants was for $1,000 each, with the second phase substantially larger — with the average request of $45,000, for a total of $1.6 million requested. The second phase will see an additional $460,000 distributed. Not all applications were deemed eligible.

The funds are intended to help businesses recoup some of their losses to include payroll, loss of perishable products and similar unforeseen economic losses suffered as the result of forced shutdowns.

Chamber President and CEO Shanna Cox told those at a morning breakfast that the chamber’s grants are reaching underrepresented business owners, with 44% of applicants coming from historically marginalized groups, including women and people of color. She said the majority of requests came from businesses with 10 or fewer employees and predominantly from the hospitality and retail sectors.

BlueTriton Brands, the parent company of Poland Spring Water, donated an initial $500,000 to help establish the relief fund and recently donated an additional $100,000.

The fund remains open for donations and any remaining funds will be used for regional marketing efforts to support area businesses, including paying the entrance fees for any business in Androscoggin County that wants to participate in Maine Restaurant Week.

Cox said the entire relief effort was made possible by the cooperation and collaboration of Auburn Savings Bank, the economic development staff at Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, the cities of Auburn and Lewiston, and the town of Lisbon.

The breakfast meeting, held at Bates College, featured speaker Ross McDuffie, chief portfolio officer for the National Trust for Local News, which owns the Maine Trust for Local News, the Sun Journal’s parent company.

McDuffie’s topic was titled “The Future of News in Our Community and Why it Matters.” The National Trust for Local News is a nonprofit organization that conserves, transforms and sustains local media.

In August, the National Trust acquired publications in Maine, including the Sun Journal, four other daily newspapers, and 17 weekly newspapers.

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