The City of Meriden and Capital for Change are launching a Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Program to provide at least 50 small Meriden businesses with a grant of up to $5,000 to pay for rent or mortgage payments, salaries, supply costs, and other eligible business expenses. An initial allocation of $300,000 has been set aside for this program, funded with Community Development Block Grant – CV funds through the CARES Act.
This grant is intended for non-essential small businesses in Meriden with a demonstrated need for assistance due to the impacts of COVID-19 that either do not qualify for, or have not been able to fully access, other funding provided by federal and state initiatives. The program will be administered by Capital for Change, and applications will be accepted online beginning on Wednesday, October 14, 2020. In an effort to make grants available to as many business owners as possible, principal owners of multiple businesses will only be eligible for one grant.
In order to be eligible for the grant, businesses must: (a) be located within the City of Meriden; (b) employ 5 full-time employees or less; (c) have been established and operating prior to February 15, 2020; (d) have positive revenues for 2019 not exceeding $500,000; (e) the owner must be low/moderate income; and (f) have a DUNS number. Other eligibility requirements, as well as information about the application and the program policies and procedures, are available at meridengrant.com beginning today. The actual application will become live on Wednesday, October 14, and grants will be awarded as long as funds are available.
"Our business community needs our help now more than ever,” said Mayor Kevin Scarpati. “Businesses have encountered increased costs in supplies and materials just to open their doors to the public due to COVID-19, and we want to help keep them open. These grants will offset some of the costs incurred by our businesses, and I am pleased the City of Meriden is stepping up to help."
Cal Vinal, President and CEO of Capital for Change, added, “Our team is working hard to implement the grant program efficiently and strategically to meet the pressing