Columbia, SC, October 12, 2020—The SC Department of Administration today announced a $40 million grant program for small businesses “to reimburse qualifying expenditures for providing services or for revenue loss due to COVID-19.”
To be eligible for the Minority and Small Business Relief Grant Program the business must have 25 or fewer employees, have been in operation from October 13, 2019 to present, and have experienced a business impact due to COVID-19.
However, priority will be given to minority-owned businesses, businesses that have not received other federal assistance (ex. PPP loan), and businesses with 15 or fewer employees.
Grants will range from $2,500 to $25,000 and can be used to reimburse expenditures for staffing, operating, facility, and PPE costs as well as revenue loss.
The window for applications is October 19 – November 1, 2020. Grant award notifications will be made December 8-15.
“This is an opportunity for all the small businesses that were locked out of PPP loans to receive some financial help for them to survive,” said Frank Knapp Jr., President and CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce. “These grants can be critical, especially for our self-employed and micro businesses. But since there is only a two-week application window, businesses will have to move quickly.”
The online applications will be available at this website: https://accelerate.sc.gov/cares-act/applying-sc-cares-act-funds.
The Department of Administration will provide assistance to businesses and answer questions through a call center starting October 13th: 803-670-5170
The Department will also have a recorded webinar for businesses needing assistance starting on October 15th.
More information can be found here.