RICHMOND, Va. – Small businesses in the Richmond region that have been impacted by COVID-19 may be eligible for a grant to help provide immediate financial relief to their business.
ChamberRVA and Facebook have collaborated to create the RVA Small Business Relief Fund.
The fund provides unrestricted grants to help small businesses with rent, employee salaries, and operating costs as a stop-gap relief pending the release and distribution of anticipated federal and state aid.
The RVA Small Business Relief Fund has $250,000 in available funds, all contributed by Facebook. There will be a total of 100 grant recipients, receiving 2,500 each.
“Facebook provided the initial seed funding... The intent is to disburse grants to applicants in successive funding rounds, as contributions allow,” said a ChamberRVA spokesperson.
Small businesses can apply on May 13, 2020, at 9:00 a.m. through 5 p.m. on May 19.
Applications will only be accepted online. Click here to apply.
Eligible businesses must be based in the Richmond Region (Ashland, Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, Powhatan and Richmond) and have been operating at least one year.
Fund applicants do not need to be ChamberRVA members to apply.
Businesses meeting the following criteria are eligible to apply:
• Employ between 2 to 25 FTE (full time equivalent) employees
• Have demonstrated negative financial impact from COVID-19
• Have demonstrated need for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar operational expenses that occur in the ordinary course of business
• Have demonstrated a focus on reopening as COVID-19 guidance and restrictions change
The Greater Richmond Chamber Foundation will manage all contributions. A grant advisory committee will monitor the unbiased process of awarding grants based their assessment of impact and need.
Virginia Together: The Rebound Richmond campaign is here to help. Find information on who is hiring, investigations into unemployment payment issues, financial advice on making ends meet, and mental health advice on managing the pressures. These stories will be featured often on CBS 6 News and can be found by clicking this link.