fundsforNGOs - United States

Grants and Resources for Sustainability

More Posts from this Category

You are here: Home / Type of Eligible Entity / Businesses / Cherokee Small Business Grant Program (Georgia)

Cherokee Small Business Grant Program (Georgia)

The Cherokee Office of Economic Development is seeking applications for its Small Business Grant Program.

Donor Name: Cherokee Office of Economic Development

State: Georgia

County: Cherokee County (GA)

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 01/31/2023

Size of the Grant: up to $30,000

Details: 

As their nation continues to respond to the changing and varied impacts of the pandemic, Cherokee County has again prioritized supporting small businesses by allocating $1,000,000 to the Small Business Grant Program. This funding, from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will provide financial assistance to local small businesses negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Per ARPA legislation, eligible small business will:

  • have suffered a demonstrable negative economic impact from the pandemic;
  • have no more than 500 employees or, if over 500 employees, meet the size standard in number of employees for the industry (NAICS code) in which the business operates;
  • be independently owned and operated
  • not dominant in its field of operation

Grant Tiers

There are three application tiers, based on number of employees:

  • If you have 1-10 (W2) employees, you are eligible to apply for up to $10,000;
  • If you have 11-50 (W2) employees, you are eligible to apply for up to $20,000;
  • If you have 51-500 (W2) employees, you are eligible to apply for up to $30,000.

Eligibility Criteria

The U.S. Department of Treasury has identified two categories of eligibility for this funding:

  • Businesses that have experienced and can demonstrate a negative economic impact due to the Coronavirus pandemic
  • If you are applying because your business has experienced a demonstrable negative economic impact from the pandemic, your application can be evaluated based on four criteria of “economic harm.” The ideal timeframes to show your economic injury will be year over year periods from 2020 to 2021 or 2021 to 2022. A business only needs to demonstrate one of these harms to satisfy eligibility:
    • DECREASED REVENUE of 10% or more annually
    • EMPLOYEE RELATED CHALLENGES that have increased payroll costs by 10% or more or caused a 20% or greater FTE loss;
    • INCREASED COST OF GOODS of 10% or more
    • OTHER ECONOMIC HARMS – Other negative economic impacts that fall outside of the three criteria of harm above will be considered, however the business must provide clear, measurable supporting documentation for evaluation.

OR

  • Businesses that the Treasury has identified as having experienced a disproportionate impact and are considered “presumptively eligible” based on their location in a Qualified Census Tract (QCT) or on Tribal Lands.  In Cherokee County, this includes businesses located in Qualified Census Tracts
  • If you are applying and your business is located in the Qualified Census Tract (QCT) area, Treasury has already validated your “economic harm” based on your location in a disproportionately impacted area. You will be required to submit documents confirming that you are a legal business, as well as your employee count.

These requirements apply to BOTH categories of eligibility one and two above:

  • Business should have no more than 500 employees or, if over 500 employees, meet the size standard in the number of employees for the industry (NAICS code) in which the business operates;
  • Application must be complete to be considered for funding, including the required supporting documentation;
  • Businesses should hold a valid business license issued through Cherokee County, Ball Ground, Canton, Holly Springs, Nelson, Waleska or Woodstock;
  • Business should be current on all federal and state taxes, as well as Cherokee County and municipal taxes and fees;
  • Business headquarters or primary location must be within Cherokee County. For purposes of this grant program, primary location is defined by having 80% of your total employee count physically located at or reporting to the Cherokee location;
  • Business must be independently owned and operated and not dominant in its field of operation;
  • Ineligible businesses include: gambling institutions, multi-level marketing organizations, real estate investment trusts, and adult entertainment;
  • Applicants will be deemed ineligible if any owner is presently involved in any bankruptcy or criminal action;
  • Applicants must not be in the process of selling their business and intend to stay in business for at least 12 months.
  • Be a For-Profit business

For more information, visit Small Business Grant.

Subscribe