More than 1,500 Massachusetts businesses awarded $78 million in grants to weather COVID-driven recession Updated Jan 14, 2021; Standing in front of brick arches in Il Ristorante Saraceno, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito described the 35-year-old Italian eatery as a family business that owner Frank Pezzano has kept afloat with his children during the coronavirus pandemic. “This is exactly the kind of business we want to see get through this pandemic and reopen more fully,” she said during a news conference at the Hanover Street restaurant in Boston’s North End neighborhood. Polito and Gov. Charlie Baker showcased Il Ristorante Saraceno as one of 1,595 businesses receiving small business grants, $78.5 million worth in total, from the state to help weather the COVID-driven recession that has stretched into its 10th month.