Small Businesses, Nonprofits Have Two-Week Window to Apply for SC CARES Pandemic Relief Grant Programs, With Awards up to $25,000

Applications are due by Sunday, Nov. 1

The SC Department of Administration announced a $40 million grant program for small businesses for revenue loss due to COVID-19.

The window to apply is from Monday, Oct. 19 through Sunday, Nov. 1. Grant award notifications will be made Dec. 8-15.

To be eligible for the Minority and Small Business Relief Grant Program, the business must have 25 or fewer employees, physically have been in operation in South Carolina from Oct. 13, 2019 to present, and have experienced a COVID-19 business impact.

Priority will be given to minority-owned businesses, businesses that have not received other federal assistance such as a PPP loan, and businesses with 15 or fewer employees.

In addition, the Nonprofit Relief Grant Program is for entities designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization by the IRS, registered as a public charity with the South Carolina Secretary of State, physically located and providing services in South Carolina, and have been in operation from Oct. 13, 2019 to present.

Grants will range from $2,500 to $25,000 and can be used to reimburse expenditures for staffing, operating, facility and PPE costs as well as revenue loss.

There are “What Do You Need to Know Before You Apply?” guidelines available for the Minority and Small Business Relief Grant Program and the Nonprofit Relief Grant Program.

Online applications for both programs are available at this accelerateSC site: https://accelerate.sc.gov/cares-act/applying-sc-cares-act-funds.

“Since there is only a two-week application window, businesses will have to move quickly,” said Frank Knapp Jr., President and CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce.

The Department of Administration can provide assistance and answer questions at its SC CARES Call Center at 803.670.5170 or email SCCares@admin.sc.gov. The call center will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekdays.

The Department will offer a recorded webinar tutorial starting Thursday, Oct. 15.

“This is an opportunity for all the small businesses that were locked out of PPP loans to receive some financial help for them to survive,” Knapp said. “These grants can be critical especially for our self-employed and micro businesses.”