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City of Monmouth Offers Small Business Resiliency Grants up to $10,000
Monmouth City Offers Grants to Small Businesses for Resiliency and Preparedness
Monmouth, a city known for its support of local businesses, is stepping up to help small businesses thrive in the face of unexpected emergencies and natural disasters. The city has announced the launch of the Small Business Resiliency Grant Program, offering grants of up to $10,000 to locally owned small businesses.
Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the grant program aims to assist small businesses in making strategic investments that will improve their resiliency and preparedness for future challenges. Eligible activities include improvements to commercial buildings, upgrades to infrastructure systems, installation of heating and cooling systems, energy efficiency upgrades, and ADA improvements to make businesses more accessible to the public.
Mayor Cecelia Koontz expressed the city’s commitment to supporting small businesses, stating, “This grant funding opportunity will help our small businesses prepare to withstand and recover more quickly from natural disasters and emergencies. It also puts into practice the City’s values of creating a more sustainable and inclusive community.”
In addition to the Small Business Resiliency Grant Program, Monmouth has implemented various business support programs in response to the pandemic, including technical assistance programs, free marketing classes, and support for shop local campaigns such as the Love Local utility credit program.
Suzanne Dufner, Monmouth’s Community and Economic Development Director, emphasized the importance of the grant program in helping businesses navigate challenges and emergencies. “Today’s small businesses have to navigate these challenges on top of everything else they do to manage their business on a day-to-day basis. This grant program is an exciting opportunity for our local small businesses to think strategically about how to prepare for those threats so they can respond quickly, stay in business, and keep their employees safe when the next emergency or natural disaster strikes in the future.”
The City Community and Economic Development Department will begin accepting grant applications for the Monmouth Small Business Resiliency Grant Program on May 1, with the first review of complete applications scheduled for May 15. Small businesses in Monmouth are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to enhance their resiliency and preparedness for the future.