Following the success of last year’s local economic stimulus grants for small business, Lexington has approved a second round of funding.
“Small businesses in Lexington and across the country have been hit hard by fallout from the pandemic,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “The more support we provide, the faster our economy will rebound.” The grant program in 2020 resulted in nearly $2.4 million in funding for local small businesses and nonprofits, with about 67% going to businesses owned by women and/or minorities.
Commerce Lexington Inc. will once again manage the Small Business Economic Recovery Program through its existing Access Loan small business financing program. The program will open on Tuesday, May 18.
Through the program, eligible small businesses will be able to apply for up to $25,000 based on sustaining or increasing employment and/or payroll within one year following the grant award. The main difference in this year’s Economic Recovery Program is that small businesses will have benchmarks to meet for additional employment and/or payroll. Companies that do not meet those benchmarks will be required to pay back the grant based on a sliding scale related to their performance.
Businesses must meet the following criteria to apply for grant assistance:
- Be located in Lexington/Fayette County.
- Have a current business license filed with the City.
- Have been in operation since January 1, 2021.
- Restricted to sole proprietors, limited liabilities, corporations, not-for-profits or non-profits.
- Maximum of 50 full-time equivalent employees (max of 100 for restaurants).
- All business taxes, payroll taxes and other payments to the City & the Commonwealth of Kentucky must be current.
- Show ability to retain or exceed current employment and/or payroll levels.
Commerce Lexington Inc. President and CEO Bob Quick, said, “I would like to especially thank Councilmember Preston Worley for taking the lead on this issue, as well as the members of the Urban County Council for providing multiple rounds of grant funding for small businesses. Our team is excited to assist in the application process and help hard-hit small businesses in our community.”
To find out more about the city’s Small Business Economic Recovery Program’s eligibility requirements, the documentation necessary to apply, and to access the application on-line, visit commercelexington.com/recovery.html. For questions about the application process, contact Tyrone Tyra at either (859) 226-1625 or (859) 226-1631, or e-mail to ttyra@commercelexington.com.
