A grant program for small businesses in the county that has been affected by the coronavirus outbreak has been approved by Arlington County, Virginia. A limited number of grants of up to $10,000 are available when the application process begins next month. The $674,000 being used to fund the GRANT (Giving Resiliency Assets Near Term) Program is being reallocated from existing Arlington Economic Development grant funds in the fiscal 2020 budget.
In this March 25, 2020 file photo, a closed sign hangs in the window of a shop in Portsmouth, N.H., due to coronavirus concerns
According to wtop.com, "The grants are available to both businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 50 employees. Those approved for the grant money can use it for salaries and benefits as well as the capital and operating expenses. A recent survey by AED found more than 9 in 10 small businesses call the pandemic extremely or very disruptive to business operations."
Arlington Economic Development Director Telly Tucker said, "In our outreach to our business community, we’ve heard that access to financial assistance was what they needed more than anything. We’re hoping these funds can bridge the gap for businesses and help them stay afloat during this challenging time."
As per wtop.com, "Those applying for the grants must demonstrate a revenue loss of at least 35% as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications will be evaluated through competitive processes involving a weighted scoring system, looking at the number of jobs retained or supported with funds, length of time in business, and whether it is a woman and/or minority-owned business."
