Joining City of Champaign’s small business grant program, City of Urbana has announced they will be assisting small businesses with financial relief.
From the press release:
CITY OF URBANA SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
In response to the economic hardships experienced by small businesses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Urbana is launching the Small Business Assistance Grant Program in an effort to retain jobs and stabilize local businesses. Applications may be submitted effective immediately. To apply for the grant there is a convenient fillable form and important information at urbanaillinois.us/reliefgrant.
“The City of Urbana is excited to offer this program to our small businesses that were impacted by the pandemic,” Sheila Dodd, Manager Grants Management Division, said. “We are working together to make our community healthy again.”
The program will serve businesses with up to fifteen (15) employees at the time of application. Grants provided will be up to $10,000 per eligible business through the Small Business Assistance Program application process. Business will qualify for assistance through the CDBG-CV Small Business Assistance Program meeting specific criteria.
Priority will be given to minority and women owned business applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding may be prioritized to the business retaining greatest number of low-to-moderate income fulltime equivalent employees.
This program is a gap financing program in response to the COVID-19 outbreak for businesses that have lost business as a result of social distancing. It is also intended to support businesses that want to open new lines of business in response to the crisis, such as manufacturing medical supplies needed to respond to the disease or providing cleaning or in-home health services.
Business must be located in the City of Urbana and must show the impact of COVID-19 through recent financial statements. Grant funds may be used for:
- Employee wages and benefits (including fringe benefits associated with employment, such as health insurance)
- Accounts payable
- Rent
- Utilities
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Signage
- Business modifications or retooling to meet new social distancing standards
- Other COVID-19-related costs
Please go to urbanaillinois.us/reliefgrant for complete information.
Top image by Anna Longworth.