The Town of Nashville is finding the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) much to its liking. After having received $500,000 in grant funding from OCRA in the past, Nashville just got another $250,000.
Sandie Jones, town manager, told the town council that the money was the third phase of COVID relief funds and that she has notified businesses. The funds will support local small businesses in their recovery from the effects of the pandemic. The grant funds are to be made available to small businesses for the purpose of retaining low to moderate income jobs and eligible businesses recipients are small businesses and microenterprises.
In April 2020, OCRA began addressing COVID-19 impact on Indiana communities. Throughout that year, 112 grants were awarded to 96 communities, totaling more than $20.9 million. Brown County and Nashville both received money at that time.
PROGRAM GUIDELINES
WHO:
For-profit businesses located in the Town of Nashville
Gross receipts less than $1 million per year
Small Businesses (100 employees or less)
51% of employees retained are low to moderate income on an aggregated basis
Microenterprises (5 employees or less, one must be the owner)
Low to moderate income owner or 51% of employees retained are low to moderate income
Business must show why funds will enable businesses to recover from the ongoing need related to COVID-19 or how funds will build resiliency for future pandemics
Preference given to locally owned businesses
Preference given to Minority- Women- and Veteran-owned businesses
WHAT:
Grant program to retain jobs, 51% of which will be for persons who are low to moderate income.
Grant amount –up to $10,000 per business
The business will commit to remain open or reopen and retaining stipulated number of employees as well as additional grant reporting (June/July 2023 and June/July 2024)
CRITERIA: Grant approval decisions will be based on the ability of the business to demonstrate that a grant is necessary to retain low to moderate income employees, that the grant will have a positive impact on employment, and that the business was viable before the public health crisis.
Businesses will qualify based upon the retention of jobs held by low to moderate income individual
