Coronavirus: Westchester Offers Additional Small Business Grants

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Westchester County is offering another round of grants for small businesses and nonprofits that are facing challenges because of the new coronavirus crisis.

The county secured $4 million in additional funding to support 175 eligible organizations seeking relief. In addition, 20 of the county’s Chambers of Commerce applied for and were each awarded a grant to be used for staffing and providing business services.

County Executive George Latimer said, due to the tremendous response to the financial assistance, the county knew it needed to expand the Business FIRST grant program.

"We are so pleased we were able to secure additional funding to assist even more small businesses and nonprofits and our Chambers of Commerce as we work together toward a sustainable future,” he said.

According to information from the county, the funds are part of Westchester County Business& FIRST: Financial Investments for Recovery and a Sustainable Tomorrow, a grant program designed to offer immediate financial relief to organizations in Westchester County that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic.

Last month, the county awarded a total of $10 million to 262 county-based small businesses and nonprofits. Based on the substantial number of applicants, the county expanded the program to enable additional awards to eligible organizations that had applied to the initial program. Businesses did not need to submit a second application.

The grant program, launched in September, was open to businesses and nonprofits with 99 or fewer employees. Eligible entities could apply for up to $49,000 to cover expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, employee salaries or benefits, working capital, equipment and other COVID-19-related expenses. The 262-recipient organizations comprise industries such as restaurants or food service; arts, entertainment and recreation; social services and education.

A full list of awardees will be made available once each awardee has signed their grant agreement, a spokesperson said.

The Westchester County Business FIRST grant program is being administered by the county Office of Economic Development through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

For more information on available county programs and assistance, go here.