Over 300 Alexandria Businesses To Receive Back To Business Grants

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A total of 309 Alexandria small businesses will receive assistance from the Alexandria Back to Business (ALX B2B) grants program.

The program, administered by the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, received 356 complete applications. Grants can be used to help with reopening costs, including: 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.

Alexandria Economic Development Partnership is notifying applicants of the results and plans to publish a list of grant recipients on its website.

Of the applicants receiving grants, 38 percent identify as Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, or Asian American, and 8 percent are activity duty in the Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard.

"The COVID-19 pandemic poses significant challenges to businesses across the Washington, D.C. region, and Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, with the support of the City of Alexandria, is pleased to provide critical financial support to Alexandria’s small businesses during this difficult period," said Stephanie Landrum, president and CEO of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership. "We’re proud to report that this round of the Alexandria Back to Business program will deliver approximately $3.5 million in relief to Alexandria’s small businesses, spread across seven ZIP codes, composed of business leaders from a myriad of racial and ethnic backgrounds."

Grant amounts depend on the number of employees: 76 percent of applicants qualify to receive $10,000 (two to 24 employees), 17 percent qualify for $15,000 (25 to 49 employees), and 7 percent will get $20,000 (50 to 100 employees).

Applications were accepted between June 4 and June 8. Eligible businesses had to be licensed and located in the City of Alexandria, in operation as of March 1, 2019, be a for-profit entity, intend to remain in Alexandria, be in good business standing, have employees between two and 100 based on W2s, and be locally owned and operated.

Of the 48 applicants that weren't eligible, most had employee numbers outside the two to 100-person requirement, delinquent city business taxes, year-to-year revenue that did not decline by at least 25 percent, or location outside City of Alexandria limits.

The partnership and the city are considering next steps from the program, as $900,000 remains from initial funding. Funding came from federal CARES Act allocations to Alexandria and the Alexandria Investment Fund. City officials hope to receive additional funds as Virginia distributes a second round of CARES Act funds later in the summer.