Grants still available to help Neighborhoods of Focus businesses

By Press release submission

Aug 20, 2021

City of Grand Rapids issued the following announcement on Aug 16.

Grant funding up to $10,000 is still available for qualifying small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and located in Grand Rapids’ neighborhoods of focus.

COVID Adaptation Program grant funding ($265,000 received through the CARES Act) is available for business adaptations including technology, furniture, fixtures and equipment purchases – including personal protective equipment – that are necessary due to COVID-19 impacts on the operation of the business. Costs must have been incurred after March 1, 2020, and there is no matching requirement for the grant. Applicants may also submit for grant support for future eligible planned purchases by submitting an estimate or quote from the vendor(s) for the purchase(s) the business would like to make.

Home-based businesses are not eligible. Payroll, bills and other day to day business expenses are also not eligible for grant funding.

The City previously provided grants up to $5,000 to small businesses for working capital (rent, utilities and payroll). Businesses that received those grants are eligible to apply to this program if they are in the Neighborhoods of Focus and meet other eligibility requirements.

To apply, or for additional information, CLICK HERE. Completed grant applications will be evaluated in the order they are received until all funding has been allocated. With grants awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to apply, businesses need to register for an account, have a Data Universal Number System (D-U-N-S) number and submit documentation.

To be eligible, businesses must meet all of the following requirements:

Have between 1 and 25 employees (owner may be an employee)
Be a for-profit business. Nonprofits are not eligible.
Have a physical location (no internet only or home-based businesses)
Be located in the Neighborhoods of Focus (NOFs) – link to map
Have been in business since at least March 1, 2020
Comply with local, state and federal laws (e.g. marijuana-related businesses are prohibited)
Demonstrated loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Not owe past due taxes, fines, fees or other debts to the City
Retain at least one full-time equivalent low- or moderate-income job

NOFs are 17 census tracts in the near west and south side of Grand Rapids in relation to downtown. Due to systemic and historic inequities, residents in NOFs experience the most disparate outcomes in income, educational opportunities, home ownership and wealth accumulation compared to other Grand Rapids census tracts and the city as a whole. These tracts represent 36% of the city's total 47 census tracts.

The program is funded with Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Original source can be found here.