The application process for Pittsylvania County small business assistance grants is now open! Up to 20 Pittsylvania County businesses are eligible for as much as $15,000 to help with rent and mortgage payments, personal protection equipment, and retooling to allow for better social distancing.
"We understand that 2020 has put many of our small businesses through unprecedented challenges," said Susan McCulloch, project manager for Pittsylvania County Economic Development who is leading the program. "We hope that these grants will help some of our businesses continue to thrive during these difficult times."
These grants are available on a reimbursable basis and can be used to cover past or future expenses. Some of the approved retooling uses include non-construction space and technology upgrades, sanitization, and job training, classes, and technical assistance. While companies from any industry are welcome to apply, those in the tourism, retail, restaurant, and personal services sectors will score higher on the application. There are several criteria for businesses interested in applying.
All business must:
- Be locally or regionally owned
- Have 20 or fewer employees
- Have been impacted by COVID-19 AND not received federal CARES Act assistance for the same purpose
- Have been opened by March 12, 2020.
Businesses that want to apply can do so by filling out the application, either online or by mail to Pittsylvania County, PO Box 426, Chatham, VA 24531, ATTN: Susan McCulloch. Several other documents must be provided along with the application. These include: a W-9; YTD Comparison and Monthly Profit and Loss Statements or Bank Statements beginning January 1, 2020 to demonstrate COVID-19 impact; the most recent federal income tax return; current business license, if applicable; and Dun and Bradstreet – Data Universal Numbering System [DUNS] Number.
These small business assistance grants are available through a $330,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. As many as 20 local business will be able to utilize the funds, which will be fully dispersed by Sept. 2021 at the absolute latest. To cover the costs of administering the program, Pittsylvania County will receive $30,000.
Applicants will be selected for the grants based on a scoring system developed in concurrence with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Applicants will be scored on several criteria:
- Demonstrated need
- Minority-owned business
- Woman-owned business
- Small, local business
- Has been impacted by COVID-19
- The funds will help the business with sustainability
Home-based businesses can apply, but a maximum of 25% of the total rent/mortgage costs will qualify. You can find more information about the application process, requirements and eligibility information, and the program itself on the Pittsylvania County website.
