Alexandria Small Business Grants To Help With Reopening Costs

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The city and Alexandria Economic Development Partnership have announced a small business grant program with applications opening on Thursday, June 4. The Alexandria Back to Business (ALX B2B) grants are intended to help businesses with reopening or readjusting operations.

Eligible businesses are Alexandria-based with two to 100 employees with revenue losses of 25 percent or greater from the pandemic. Employees can be full-time or part-time but must have received a W-2 form.

Grant amounts are based on the number of employees. Businesses with two to 24 employees are eligible for $10,000, businesses with 25 to 49 employees can get $15,000, and businesses with 50 to 100 employees can receive $20,000 for 50 to 100 employees.

Stephanie Landrum, President and CEO of Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, outlined the need for grants upon presenting the final program to City Council. Businesses owners had expressed concerns about reopening costs after the pandemic negatively impacted revenues. Virginia's reopening guidance has various requirements for different types of businesses.

"The Alexandria Back to Business grants program, which will help offset reopening and rescaling costs, supports the safe reopening of Alexandria’s businesses by providing relief for the purchase of PPE, renovations that meet social distancing guidelines, and rent or mortgage costs required to be made in order to reopen," said Landrum in a statement.

Grants can be used for personal protective equipment, other equipment and supplies to promote health and safety, technology for e-commerce or virtual business, professional services for designing or constructing an environment with physical distancing as well as costs of the changes; cleaning and disinfection services before reopening, or rent and mortgage costs required to reopen.

The $4.4 million in business grants are funded by CARES Act funding allocated to Alexandria and the Alexandria Investment Fund. Grants will be administered by the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership.

The application period is 8 a.m. on June 4 through 5 p.m. on June 8. Applications will be reviewed during the weeks of June 8 and 15. Applicants will be notified of results during the week of June 22, and grants will be distributed during the week of June 29.

SEE ALSO:

• Outdoor Dining Areas Expanded For Phase 1 Reopening In Alexandria
• ALX Promise To Guide Businesses As Reopening Starts