• Grant Programs

     

     

     

  • BUSINESS INTERRUPTION GRANT

    The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and theArkansas Department of Finance and Administration received approval to proceed with a grant program utilizing $50 million in CARES Act funds for Arkansas businesses in the service and hospitality industries significantly impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

    The grant will provide reimbursement for a portion of specific eligible expenses incurred by businesses in these industries between March 1 and Sept. 30, 2020. The grant application period will open Monday, November 16, and close on Wednesday, November 25. View Checklist, FAQs, Grant Rules here.

     

    ARKANSAS READY FOR BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM

    Due to overwhelming demand, we have received grant applications that would exceed funding limits. Should additional funding become available, an announcement will be made. Please check arkansasedc.com/covid19 for updates. In an effort to help Arkansas businesses as they prepare to transition back towards normal operating capacity, the Ready for Business Grant Program is designed to provide grants from $1,000 to $100,000, depending on the number of employees, to assist with COVID-19-related expenses, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), deep cleaning, signage, hand sanitizer dispensers, marketing and more. Eligible expenditures must be made between March 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020.The purpose of the Ready for Business Grant Program is to assist companies in protecting their employees and visitors while establishing customer confidence. The grants will be administered by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. View the Grant Program Overview Here.

    BLUE & YOU FOUNDATION GRANTS: Taking Applications

    Any 501(c)(3) public charity, public school, governmental agency (city, county, state), nonprofit hospital or church in Arkansas is eligible to apply. Grants are not made to individuals. Applications must be submitted online at www.BlueAndYouFoundationArkansas.org. Applying organizations may request a grant ranging from $5,000 to $150,000. The Foundation will review applications and make funding decisions weekly. Grants not approved immediately each week will be held for consideration for funding in later weeks.

    SAVE SMALL BUSINESS FUND GRANT

    Applications will be live April 20, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT. Please visit savesmallbusiness.com to access the application. Eligible organizations include small businesses and chambers of commerce (with a 501©6 status) that employ between three and 20 people and are located in an economically vulnerable community. Grant decisions will be made on a weekly, rolling basis until all funding has been allocated. For any questions, please reach out to savesmallbusiness@uschamber.com. From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

    ARKANSAS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MINI-GRANTS

    Arkansas Community Foundation is accepting proposals for $1,000 mini-grants for organizations responding to the immediate needs of vulnerable populations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are specifically interested in helping organizations maintain their operations and respond to increased demand from clients during this time. Mini-grant applications will be accepted and grants will be awarded on a rolling basis until available grant funds are expended.

    Begin the online application now. 

    Who’s Eligible-
    Any IRS 501(c)(3) public charity, school, hospital or government agency in Arkansas may apply. Grants are not made to individuals.

    What We’re Looking For-
    We expect to award several rounds of grants over the coming months. During this first phase, priority will be given to organizations that:

    • Provide human services and emergency assistance (for example, food, shelter, transportation, living expenses, rent/utility assistance, etc.)
    • Primarily serve vulnerable populations, including children who are out of school/families without childcare, people who have lost a source of income due to the pandemic, people who are at high risk medically, people who are homeless or incarcerated, individuals who lack paid sick leave or health insurance, etc.
    • Disseminate factual safety and response information to vulnerable communities such as non-English speaking residents, rural residents, senior citizens, etc.

    Organizations may use funding to support clients needs, cover costs associated with decreased staffing or remote working due to quarantine/social distancing, provide mental health programming for clients or staff or coordinate/facilitate in-kind goods and donations to sites and organizations that provide human services and serve vulnerable populations.

    This is not an exhaustive list, and other needs will be considered.

    Businesses and individuals are not eligible to apply; however, we will consider grants to nonprofit organizations that provide direct financial assistance to individuals.

    Grant Range
    All grants will be awarded in the form of a $1,000 award for general operating support. Organizations may receive only one mini-grant at this time.

    Log in to our online portal to apply. If you have never applied for a grant from the Community Foundation, you'll need to start by creating an account. If you have applied through our portal in the past, you can use your previous login information.

    Click here to Get Started

    For more information you can contact Denice @ whitecounty@arcf.org

     

    VERIZON SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY FUND

    Thanks to a $2.5 million investment from Verizon. Verizon is offering grants to help small businesses fill urgent financial gaps until they can resume normal operations or until other more permanent financing becomes available.  First round Applications are due by April 4th, 11:59 PM ET
    https://www.lisc.org/covid-19/verizon-small-business-recovery-fund/


    FACEBOOK BUSINESS BOOST GRANTS
    Facebook has committed to offering up to 30,000 small businesses $100 million in cash grants and Facebook advertising credits. The grants will be provided to businesses in more than 30 countries. Information is limited, but sign up to get more details from the company when they’re available.

    For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/business/boost/grant
    Facebook Is Giving Out $100 Million in Small-Business Grants. Here's What to Know--and What the Rest of Big Tech Should Learn

    National Restaurant Association –
    Launches relief fund for restaurant workers, offer $500 grants (Currently their website is having technical difficulty)

    The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) announced the initiative Friday, confirming that Guy Fieri would be leading the fundraising drive for its Restaurant Employee Relief Fund (RERF). Under the program, food service workers would be able to apply for grants of $500 each to put towards housing, groceries, medical costs or other living expenses while out of work.
    Read more at https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/guy-fieri-national-restaurant-association-relief-fund-500-grants

  • A Natural Fit.