$150,000 Avon Lake Small Business Grant Program Opens Monday

AVON LAKE, OH — Avon Lake's 2021 Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant program will open Monday morning.

Interested businesses can apply for grant relief starting at 9 a.m. The grant must be used to "mitigate the ongoing damage that COVID-19 is doing to small businesses." The program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

“This grant program is very similar to the one we did last year,” said Ted Esborn, the city's economic development director. “Last year it was CARES Act funding and this year it is ARPA. In both cases, when we learned about the funding, we quickly moved to use it on a small business grant program. It has been such a difficult two years for our small businesses, so when we get the opportunity to help them, we jump at it.”

This year's grant program will receive $150,000 to give away. Grants will range from $1,000 to a maximum of $2,500. The Lorain County Chamber of Commerce will aid the Small Business Development Center in administering the grants.

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Who Can Apply

The 2021 grant program is open to small businesses. That means Avon Lake-based commercial spaces with no more than 20 employees. Home-based businesses are not eligible. Financial institutions that issue credit to the public are also not eligible.

How to Apply

The application period will open Nov. 8. The grant application will be posted to the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce's website.

Alongside the application will be the grant guide, which further explains eligibility and process. If you're eligible, you can then download the application, complete it and submit it to the Lorain County Chamber, along with all necessary documentation.

How Else the City Helps Small Businesses

The 2021 grant program is part of the city's "Support Our Avon Lake," a year-end business-support campaign. In addition to the grants, Avon Lake will run Shop Local Raffles. The grand prize is for $1,900 in Avon Lake shopping and dining on Dec. 17.

It also features Business Spotlights, produced by Avon Lake’s Digital Media Department, with one spotlight posted every Saturday until mid-December, the city said.