Grant Program Offered To Fairfax Co. Small Businesses, Nonprofits

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — On Tuesday, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to create a $25 million grant program to provide relief to small businesses and nonprofits economically impacted by the new coronavirus pandemic. The application process for the Fairfax Relief Initiative to Support Employers (Fairfax RISE), is expected to start in June. Grants will not have to be repaid.

Money allocated to Fairfax County from the federal CARES Act is funding the grant program. There will be a minimum allocation of 30 percent of the program’s funds — $7.5 million — for minority-owned, veteran-owned and women-owned businesses. According to a county news release, minority, women and veteran-owned businesses employ 80,000 people in the county and account for $14.4 billion in revenues.

Grants may be used to pay for employee compensation and benefits, working capital, equipment, inventory, rent and other critical operating expenses. The funds may not be used to pay debts to close the business or start a new business.

Eligible businesses and nonprofits must have at least one full-time-equivalent employee and less than 50 employees at all locations. At least one or more locations must be in Fairfax County, including the principal place of business; businesses and nonprofits may be in the towns of Herndon, Vienna and Clifton. Businesses and nonprofits must have been in operation for over one year. Businesses must have a valid business, professional and occupational license.

Award amounts are determined on the number of full-time-equivalent employees. For example a business or nonprofit with one to ten full-time employees could get a $10,000 grant, one with 11 to 25 could get $15,000 and one with 26 to 49 could get $20,000.

"Our hope is that these grants will help small businesses and nonprofits emerge from these difficult times, retain employees and be prepared to grow in the future," said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay. "We want to support the many small businesses and nonprofits that are crucial to the Fairfax County community and economy."

The grant program joins the county's $2.5 million Small Business COVID Recovery Microloan and $25 million Safety-Net Non-Profit Grant Program.

Interested applicants can sign up to be notified when the grant application is available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/economic-success/fairfaxrise.