Atlanta Small Businesses Receiving Help Through American Rescue Plan
ATLANTA, Ga. (CW69 News at 10) -- Small businesses in Atlanta are getting a boost from the city. The Resurgence Grant Fund aims to help businesses hit hard by the pandemic.
Zachary Wallace knows all too well how the pandemic has taken a toll on small businesses. He owns Local Green Atlanta, a fast casual restaurant serving up pescatarian and vegan cuisines.
"Coming off of COVID, seeing 80% of your sales decline and diminish, you were really thinking about, 'Ok, how do I just stay afloat,'" Wallace said.
His business received over $30,000 through the Resurgence Grant Fund in October, a program launched through the CARES Act. The funds helped boost his digital and food truck sales.
"The timing of the funding was crucial," said Wallace.
Mayor Andre Dickens announced Atlanta has relaunched the Resurgence Grant Fund through the American Rescue Plan, providing $10 million in financial relief to small businesses and non-profits in the city.
"It's gonna help bolster them up, support them and their employees, so that we have a healthy ecosystem," said Dickens.
Qualified applicants can receive grants for up to $40,000 to go toward rent, payroll and other costs. "I know as a previous small business owner, capital is necessary to continue to operate your business," Dickens said.
Invest Atlanta, the city's economic development authority, is facilitating the program.
"About 20% of our businesses are still lagging behind. We have to get everybody back post-COVID," said Invest Atlanta President and CEO Dr. Eloisa Klementich, the president and CEO of Invest Atlanta.
Applications open on March 1, 2022, and the application period ends on April 29, 2022. For more information, click here.
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