PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. -- Prince George County leaders are reminding small business owners to apply for aid available from the CARES Small Business Grant Program if their business was impacted by COVID-19.
"Because they're not applying, we're not quite sure why," Prince George County Deputy Administrator Jeff Stoke said. "We are going to raise the threshold because the money quite frankly is use or lose."
Stoke said about 20 businesses so far have applied to receive the $3500 grants.
The grant amount is intended to help small businesses recover during the pandemic. But with the low application submissions, Stoke said county leaders will be discussing extending the grant amount to $30,000.
"Our key is getting the money into the hands of as many small businesses as possible. This is our money. This is federal government money that they're giving to us to help out with COVID."
In order to apply, businesses must:
- Prove how COVID-19 has impacted their business
- Have Less than 100 full-time employees
- Be a for-profitbBusiness
- Be located in Prince George County
Click here for more information about the program.
Businesses have until Sept. 30 to apply -- or until the funds run out. Funding is a first come, first served basis, Stoke noted.
"This is our money. This is federal government money that they're giving to us to help out with COVID," Stoke said. "It's just sitting here and we'd love to get it out the door -- and [we] do not really want to return it to the federal government. We'd prefer to put it in the hands of our small businesses."
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