Westborough EDC allocates quarterly small-business grants to four local shops

The Town of Westborough Economic Development Committee voted May 7 to allocate the first-quarter small-business grant funds among four applicants, awarding $4,000 each to Yulman's Ice Cream and Curvaceous Bride and $3,500 each to Fitness Together and Coffee and Pie.

In a brief public presentation, Abdul Alshok, owner of Coffee and Pie at 276 Turnpike Road, said his shop opened April 1, 2023, faced heavy first-year losses and needs to bring surfaces into compliance with town health-code requirements so it can serve on reusable plates. “We opened 04/01/2023 ... We had about $6,060,000 dollar loss, but the good news is we are projecting better income this year,” Alshok said, describing epoxy resurfacing and table replacement as lower-cost ways to meet the code and reduce disposable use.

Sarah Morrissey, owner of Fitness Together at 57 East Main Street, described purchasing the franchise in March 2024, updating studio walls and equipment and acquiring an InBody body-composition analyzer to improve client retention and program outcomes. “The InBody delivers standard measurements like percent body fat, skeletal muscle mass, BMI, and more,” Morrissey said, noting the equipment’s role in onboarding and retesting clients.

Ann Stout, owner of Mary Anne’s Bridal Outlet, proposed Curvaceous Bride, a separate plus-size bridal store planned for roughly 2,600 square feet. Stout framed the shop as filling a regional gap: “To me, there’s nothing more important than your wedding dress,” she said, and requested funds for signage, fixtures and furniture.

Kelly Marston, owner of Yulman's Ice Cream, described ongoing property improvements including pergolas and shade structures to increase seating safety and comfort and to support increased wholesale activity and bus-tour customers.

Committee members reviewed application scores (Coffee and Pie 70; Fitness Together 80; Curvaceous Bride 75; Yulman's 80) and noted program constraints: the committee has typically limited quarterly disbursements to about $15,000 and considers prior awards in scoring. The chair’s proposed allocation ($4,000 Yulman's; $4,000 Curvaceous Bride; $3,500 Fitness Together; $3,500 Coffee and Pie) was moved, seconded and approved by roll call.

The committee also discussed program rules and eligibility — one member flagged a missing ownership field on an application that would have affected the rubric; staff confirmed that minority- or women-owned status can change scoring and that nonprofits were not eligible for this program. Members urged staff to continue outreach to new applicants and to assist businesses with questions about allocations and code compliance.

The EDC director reminded members of the Business Expo at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough the next day and encouraged volunteers to staff the town’s booth.

The committee adjourned after the scheduled agenda items.