COVID Small Business Grants & Resources
Below, find a regularly updated list of small business grants and resources for COVID relief. To add a program to this list, email marketing@bentonpark.org.
Ameren Missouri COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program
Ameren Missouri has created Ameren Missouri has created the Ameren Missouri COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program in partnership with the United Way. Start. Starting July 6, they began accepting applications for energy assistance from eligible small business and non-profit customers. Click on this link to learn more: https://uwgsl.tfaforms.net/4602934
CARES Act Rental & Mortgage Assistance
Applications are now being accepted for City residents needing rental and mortgage assistance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, $5.4 million in federal CARES Act funding is being made available through a new program called “St. Louis City CARES.”
The Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Affordable Housing Commission will work in coordination with various housing organizations and service providers to distribute available funding to qualified applicants. Assistance is limited to $3,500 per household.
Missouri Department of Economic Development Small Business Grant
Missouri Department of Economic Development is issuing a *Reimbursement* grant for small businesses for up to $50,000 for "costs of business interruption caused by required closures in connection with the COVID-19". This grant is not for up-front cash but for reimbursement of existing expenses related to COVID19. To request an application, send an email to smallbusinessgrant@ded.mo.gov. There are a few more hoops to jump through for this grant than for others.
Eligibility requirements:
For-profit business with fewer than 50 employees
Applicant must be located in Missouri.
Business must be incorporated in Missouri
The applicant must be registered to do business in Missouri and in good standing with the Secretary of State
Applicant must complete and submit Form 943 to obtain a tax clearance certificate (valid for 90 days) from the Missouri Department of Revenue for each owner and the business.
Applicant must register with the MissouriBuys state procurement system
If requesting more than $5000, applicant must submit proof that they have enrolled in E-Verify.
Red Backpack Fund
The Red Backpack Fund is an initiative started by The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation. The foundation donated $5 million to GlobalGiving to establish The Red Backpack Fund. GlobalGiving will be making at least 1,000 grants of $5,000 each to female entrepreneurs in the U.S. to help alleviate the immediate needs and support the long-term recovery of those impacted by this crisis. To learn more about The Red Backpack Fund, please visit globalgiving.org/redbackpackfund.
Each month from April to August, GlobalGiving will accept fund applications. The April, May, and June cycles are now closed but two more rounds remain. The application portal will open at 12 p.m. ET and close at 12 p.m. ET the following dates:
July 6-13
Aug. 3-10
Visa IFundWomen Grant Program for Black Women-Owned Businesses
Visa has extended its partnership with IFundWomen to support Black women-owned small businesses in the United States through a new grant program and educational resources. These grants provide an opportunity for recipients to grow their businesses and continue to offer much needed services to their local (and global) communities. Applications are being accepted from June 30, 2020 through July 31, 2020.