The City of Monmouth is offering grants of up to $10,000 to locally owned small businesses in Monmouth as part of its newly created Small Business Resiliency Grant Program. The grant is designed to help small businesses make strategic investments that will improve their resilience and preparedness for unexpected emergencies and natural disasters. Funding for the grant program comes from the American Rescue Plan Act which was awarded to the City of Monmouth in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to mitigate its negative economic impacts.
Activities eligible for the grant include:
– Improvements to commercial buildings (interior and exterior)
– Upgrades to building infrastructure systems (e.g. electrical, mechanical and plumbing)
– Installation of heating and cooling systems.
– Energy efficiency upgrades
– ADA improvements that will make a business more accessible to the public.
Funding for local small businesses will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mayor Cecelia Koontz said Monmouth is deeply committed to helping its small businesses grow and prosper now and for years to come.
“This funding opportunity will help our small businesses prepare to withstand and recover more quickly from natural disasters and emergencies,” Koontz said. “It also puts into practice the city’s values of creating a more sustainable and inclusive community.”
In addition to the creation of the Monmouth Small Business Resiliency grant program, Monmouth has funded a multitude of business support programs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a business technical assistance program, free marketing classes, and support for advocacy campaigns. local stores like , the Love Local utility credit program.
“Our businesses have been tested by a number of emergencies and challenges in recent years, including a global pandemic, toxic wildfire smoke, ice storms, extreme heat events, and cybersecurity threats,” said Suzanne Dufner. , Monmouth Community and Counseling. Director of Economic Development. “Small businesses today have to face these challenges on top of everything they do to run 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 occurs in the future.” .
The city’s Department of Economic and Community Development will begin accepting grant applications for the Monmouth Small Business Resiliency Grant Program on May 1 and will conduct the first review of completed applications on May 15.