D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office is launching a $3 million Small Business Resiliency Fund that will offer small District brick-and-mortar businesses $10,000 in emergency operational funds.
The money, which will help with business model pivoting, marketing expenses, purchasing of personal protective equipment and disinfection products, and continued development of e-commerce and online shopping platforms, will also assist small businesses as they “adapt and implement creative measures so they can stay open during the public health emergency,” Bowser said in a press release.
In order to be eligible, businesses must have a facility located in D.C., employ 50 or fewer people, generate less than $3 million in gross receipts, and be able to demonstrate that they have lost 25% or more of revenue due to the pandemic. They also can’t have any debt owed to the city in excess of $100.
The application period for the grants began Tuesday at 4 p.m.
“Pivoting a business costs money,” said John Falcicchio, deputy mayor for planning and economic development. “These challenging times are forcing businesses to adapt to a new norm all while trying to keep their doors open. This funding will help alleviate some of the financial burden COVID-19 has imposed on our small and local businesses.”