$6 Million Retail Restore Grant Applications Now Available In Prince William County

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — Applications are now open for Prince William County's $6 million Restore Retail grant program. The program, which was approved by the Board of County Supervisors in November, intends to aid local businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Prince William County Department of Economic Development is processing the grant applications. Local businesses who own or lease their facility are eligible for grants of $5,000, $15,000, and $25,000 depending on the size of their storefront.

The grant funds come from the $91.4 million allocated to Prince William County through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The program will be open until December 2022, or until the funds are exhausted.

Christina Winn is the executive director at the Prince William County Department of Economic Development. "Targeting the retail and lodging industries is the most swift and effective means of getting much needed resources into the hands of the hardest hit businesses while maintaining a strong commercial real estate market," Winn said in a news release last month.

Funds obtained through the grant must be used general operating expenses, such as payroll, rent, insurance or other operating cost; or adaptive costs related to COVID-19.

"These grants add to our community’s determination and resilience in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic," Ann Wheeler, Chair of the Board of County Supervisors, said in a news release. "The Board is committed to helping the hospitality and tourism industries bounce back to generate much-needed spending for our small business community."

To qualify for a grant, a local business must meet the following criteria:

• A physical business address in Prince William County
• Open and operating as of December 31, 2020, with a 2021 Prince William County Business License
• Commercial location under 25,000 contiguous square feet OR standalone entertainment venue with more than 1,100 permanent seats
• Primary business operations in Arts, Entertainment, Event Venues, Recreation, Child Enrichment, Personal Services, Restaurants/Food Services, Retail
• Must have experienced financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic

More information about the Restore Retail grant program is available online. Anyone with questions can contact Clarice Grove, Small Business Manager, at CGrove@pwcgov.org.