An online application is now open for small businesses to apply for portions of $250,000 in grant funding to aid small businesses affected by COVID-19.
The Brown County Community Foundation (BCCF) and Brown County Commissioners were awarded the money from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) to create a COVID-19 Small Business Response grant program.
The application opens on Wednesday, July 1 at noon browncountygives.org/bcgives/small-business-grant-application/
The BCCF will offer grants to Brown County small businesses, particularly those businesses in high-risk categories, including but not limited to hospitality/tourism, food and beverage, personal care, professional services and retail sectors.
Businesses will be awarded grant amounts based on their employee count with a maximum award of $10,000. Final grant award amounts will be determined by the BCCF Board of Trustees and funds will be issued on a first come, first serve basis for those that meet the grant criteria.
The goal of this program is to retain jobs, and the BCCF must serve 51 percent or more jobs that are considered low-to-moderate income (LMI). LMI are incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income for Brown County.
Each employee is also required to submit the LMI survey available on the application page.
Grants can be used for a combination of working capital, continued operation expenses, and/or to support remote work expenses that are immediate needs. The money will need to be expended within a three-month period.
The Brown County Community Foundation has the “best interests of the community at heart,”according to a press release.
“By supporting charitable organizations in broad areas of community need — education, social services, health care, arts and humanities and environment – we help build a stronger, healthier Brown County.”
A limited pool of grant funding is available and the foundation is not sure how quickly applications will come in, so there is no deadline for when the applications are due. But BCCF will announce when the window is closed, said Sean Hildreth, the BCCF marketing, communications and outreach officer.
“The tricky part is we don’t want to close the application until all grants have been approved and funding exhausted,” he said.
“It depends on how fast applications come in and if they are approved.”
Call BCCF at 812-988-4882 for more information.
