By: Felipe Rivas
2 min read August 2020—True to its motto, the city of Atlanta looks to rise again by launching a new program to help small businesses recover from pandemic-related challenges. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced the launch of the Resurgence Grant Fund, which is set to begin accepting applications next week. The Resurgence Grant Fund is slated to help qualifying businesses keep their operations open and cover pandemic-related expenses via grants of various amounts.
“The City of Atlanta’s motto is Resurgens- Latin for ‘rising again.’ Resurgens is more than an emblem, it is part of the One Atlanta way, coming together as one community to support each other in times of need,” Bottoms said in a press release. “As COVID-19 continues to challenge Atlanta’s small businesses and the communities that depend on them, the Resurgence program will provide funds to help businesses operate safely and protect their employees as our city recovers together.”
Atlanta business owners wishing to take advantage of the Resurgence Program can apply for up to $40,000 to reimburse the costs of business interruptions as a result of shelter-in-place measures and pandemic-related closures. Business owners can use the grants to buy personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies and other health measures to protect their employees and customers. Through the funds, businesses will have access to up to $10,000 of no-cost technical assistance services, such as legal resources and workforce development, as they pivot their business practices to adapt to a more socially-distanced, digital and touch-free environment, the mayor’s office said in a press release.
Eligible businesses must meet the following criteria:
- Operates an active for-profit enterprise in the City of Atlanta;
- Holds a 2020 city of Atlanta business license;
- Continuously in business and operating since March 1, 2019;
- Had fewer than 250 employees as of March 1, 2020; and
- Documented business interruption as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and related emergency declarations, resulting in financial loss.
Economic development authority Invest Atlanta will handle the application process. The application window will be open from Aug. 10 to Aug. 31. “We are listening to the needs of the business community and continue to deploy resources to help them through the impacts of COVID-19,” said Eloise Klementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta, in a press release. “Economic prosperity and competitiveness in Atlanta start with equity, and Atlanta’s recovery from the pandemic must be an equitable recovery. These new grant programs will help achieve this by ensuring more Atlanta small business owners have access to funds to adapt their business and operate safely.”
The Resurgence Grant Fund is made possible by the $88-million federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding to the city of Atlanta, of which $22 million was allocated to support small businesses and independent professionals impacted by the pandemic, the mayor’s office said in press release.
Interest business owners can attend a citywide Resurgence Grant Fund webinar on Wednesday, Aug. 12, hosted by Invest Atlanta.
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