Haverhill Taxi Receives $20,000 State Grant to Improve Competitiveness, Enhance Safety

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Haverhill Taxi is one of 104 taxi and livery businesses to receive a grant for, as the state says, “improving their competitiveness and enhancing safety capabilities in the rapidly evolving market of for-hire transportation.”

Haverhill Taxi was awarded $20,000 from the fund intended to pay for dispatch systems or other equipment, technology-enabled ride-hailing systems, safety enhancements, workforce training programs and business consultant services. The Taxi and Livery Business Support Grant Program comes from MassDevelopment’s allocation from the Commonwealth’s Transportation Infrastructure Enhancement Trust Fund.

“I’m pleased we can target this necessary support for the taxi and livery industries which make up an important component of the Commonwealth’s comprehensive transportation network,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “These grants will support the competitiveness of the taxi and livery industries by helping them make critical adjustments to operate with the health and safety of both their workers and customers in mind.”

Other area firm receiving grants are Town Livery of Lawrence, $50,000; Four Star Limousine, Salisbury, $48,501; and Limo Dave, Salisbury, $34,970.

MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss said the agency has awarded close to $4.5 million in grants to small businesses and industry associations.

Grants come from a 2016 law paid by a 20-cent assessment on every transportation network company ride in Massachusetts. One-quarter of the money is designated to MassDevelopment to provide financial assistance to small businesses operating in the taxicab, livery or hackney industries.

Companies may apply for grants of up to $50,000, while taxi and livery industry associations could apply for grants of up to $1 million, and could direct up to $200,000 of such awards toward the purchase of marketing materials that promote the taxi and livery industries.

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