Our History
Our CRA-ED History
Starting Off
2018
In 2018, Cambridge Retail Advisors (CRA) and Boston Main Street Foundation (BMSF) started a relationship to bring to life a Technology Initiative sponsored by Citizens Bank.
BMSF Technology Initiative
2020
CRA works with BMSF to select technology vendors, structure the program management, and manage the implementation of the pilot Technology Initiative. Over a dozen local Boston businesses are chosen to receive the new hardware and software suite of technology.
University of Wisconsin-Madison (UWM)
2021
CRA works in partnership with UWM to facilitate state based small business development projects. Additionally, CRA founders serve as guest college lecturers for business classes pertaining to post COVID-19 recovery.
Massachusetts LRRP
2021
Local Rapid Response Program (LRRP) was developed to provide every municipality in Massachusetts the opportunity to create actionable, project-based recovery plans tailored to the unique economic challenges and COVID-19 related impacts to downtowns, town centers, and commercial areas across the commonwealth. CRA is chosen as a subject matter expert for LRRP - here the team led two seminars to community representatives from across the state and creates best practice sheets now available on the Mass.gov website.
Rapid Recovery Program, Phase two
2021
Four communities in Massachusetts select CRA as a community development expert. The CRA team designs action plans for local municipalities to implement at a future date. These plans center around place making, technology empowerment, and permitting facilitation.
CRA-ED Formation
2021
CRA’s economic development division is formally founded as a separate entity named CRA-ED. Partners include the founders of CRA in addition to Grant Cohen and Joe Lawlor.
ARPA / MGCC CERTIFIED PARTNER
2022
Chosen as ARPA support partner to facilitate grant programs throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
BOA AND CITIZENS COLLABORATION
2022
BMSF/CRA-ED has been requested to submit fundraising applications to Bank of America and Citizens Bank for $300k to support Technology Initiative through 2023
EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS
2022
CRA-ED establishes workshop program focused on: tech empowerment, marketing, interior design and planning, company culture, retail real estate, and grant writing
DANVILLE RIVER DISTRICT ASSOCIATION
2022
Full implementation of the Technology Initiative Association was selected as a semi-finalist for the Great American Main Street Award
MGCC GRANT APPROVAL
2022
Small Business Assistance Grant Review Committee has completed its work and based on its findings it has recommended that your organization be awarded a grant of $100,000.00 for the FY23 SBTA Grant Program