Falls Church Accepting Applications For $5K Grants From Small Businesses, Nonprofits

FALLS CHURCH, VA — The City of Falls Church is inviting small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Falls Church to apply for $5,000 grants to use for COVID-19 related expenses.

Applications for the grants, which are funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, must be received by the city by March 25.

Grant recipients will be required to use the funds by July 31, 2022, and submit a final report of how the funds were spent by Aug. 31, 2022.

Small businesses and nonprofits that previously received a local, state, or federal grant during the pandemic, including a small business micro grant, are not eligible to apply for a City of Falls Church ARPA Small Business Grant, the city said.

Applicants must use this online application, or download a PDF form available. Businesses and nonprofits also may drop off a completed application and other documents Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the permits counter in City Hall at 300 Park Ave., Suite 103 East.

To submit an application by email, applicants must print out the application, fill it out, scan it, and e-mail it to EDO@fallschurchva.gov with all required documents.

Applications must be accompanied by a signed and uploaded W-9 form. Nonprofits must also include a Letter of Determination, or Form 990.

Awardees will be chosen at random after eligibility is confirmed, the city said. Grant recipients will have the option to receive their check by mail or pick up their checks in person.

The grant application is a public document, and the names of the businesses awarded funds may be made public once funds are disbursed, the city said.

A Falls Church business or nonprofit is eligible to apply if it meets all of these requirements:

• The business or nonprofit operates from a commercial location in the City of Falls Church.
• The business (including second floor and office use businesses that were not eligible in the last funding rounds) or nonprofit has a current business license in the City of Falls Church.
• The business or nonprofit must have been in operation at least one year prior to Jan. 1, 2019.
• The business or nonprofit must have been fully open and operating as of Nov. 1, 2021.
• The business or nonprofit must be in good standing with city tax payments and regulations.
• The business or nonprofit is not a franchise.
• The business or nonprofit has fewer than 500 employees.
• The business or nonprofit had a 25 percent to 80 percent loss in revenue between the end of calendar years 2019 and 2020. The City of Falls Church Commissioner of the Revenue will verify gross receipts reported to the city.
• The business or nonprofit had gross receipts of no less than $50,000 and no more than $1 million.
• The business or nonprofit did not receive Economic Development Authority micro grants in previous funding rounds. (See the list of ineligible businesses).
• The business or nonprofit did not receive federal or state financial assistance, such as PPP loans, for COVID-19.

The grant recipients can use the funds for expenses directly related to the impacts of COVID-19, including:

• Retaining and/or supporting employees.
• Restoring financial resiliency.
• Rent or mortgage payments.
• Addressing temporary COVID-19 related restrictions on business activity.
• Increasing technology capacity to enable alternative work forms.
• Creating new marketing campaigns.
• Revising business plans.
• Paying vendor invoices.
• Facility cleaning/restoration.
• Outdoor dining.
• Technical assistance, counseling or other services to support business planning.

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