The COVID-19 relief grant, focusing on helping local, independently owned businesses in Cleveland County, will host a second round of applications
Cleveland County, NC—November 20, 2020— A COVID-19 relief grant program established by the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners and the United Way of Cleveland County, and administered by Mountain BizWorks provides support to small businesses in Cleveland County who have been negatively affected by COVID-19. The Cleveland County Small Business Recovery Fund was created to help preserve local small businesses, provide resources to help open safely, and protect thousands of jobs through grant dollars. Unlike other pandemic relief efforts, this is a grant program intended to assist financially overburdened small business owners.
Small businesses across the county applied for grant funding during the submission period, October 23 – November 6. We are excited to announce that this resulted in 15 firms receiving grant funds totaling $120,390.
Observing that there are more businesses that need financial assistance with the reopening, the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners and the United Way has decided to open a second round for applications.
For its second round, the Cleveland County Small Business Recovery Fund application will be open from November 20 – December 4.
Similar to the first round, applications will be scored based on the businesses’ financial need and their re-opening plans to make their business more resilient, safer, and more sustainable. A distinct difference for the second round is that firms will need to demonstrate a 15% loss in revenue due to COVID-19, instead of 25% as needed in the first round.
“Families across the county depend on small businesses for their livelihood, and these grants, combined with additional COVID-19 business relief efforts offered by the county, will help to create a strong foundation for Cleveland County’s economic recovery,” said Steve Padgett, Director of the Small Business Center at Cleveland Community College. “By putting these funds to work to help Cleveland County small businesses reopen safely, we will make a real impact on our families, our jobs, and our communities.”
In the first round, grants were awarded to a variety of types of businesses such as:
- Arts and culture
- Construction
- Event management
- Healthcare
- Personal care services
- Professional services
- Retail
If you are a small business interested in applying, please go to moutainbizworks.org/ccsbrf to learn more and apply.
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