Businesses in the Emporia city limits that have been hard-hit by coronavirus can now apply for grants through the Kansas Department of Commerce.
The state recently approved a Community Development Block Grant COVID-19 grant program for small businesses to help with immediate and anticipated needs like working capital, inventory, wages, utilities and rent. Emporia has been working for several weeks to set the local parameters for the funds after getting $132,000 for that purpose.
Businesses must be for-profit, tax entity, non-farm businesses with less than 50 employees. Also, over half of the full-time equivalent jobs must be for people from low- to moderate-income households as defined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development — and those households must have a total adjusted gross income that is under 80 percent of the county’s median income.
Debt repayment is not an eligible use. Acquiring new buildings or property is not allowed. Business expansion and payment of personal non-business costs is also disallowed as part of this program. Businesses that have received funding from other CARES Act programs like the Paycheck Protection Program or Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program would only be eligible for this grant program if the local grant does not cover the same week’s expenses as addressed by the other programs.
Applications are due by Aug. 13. Call Main Street Director Casey Woods at 340-6430 or Governmental Assistance Services Grant Administrator Garrett Nordstrom at 816-805-9183 with questions.
Applications can be returned to:
Assistant City Manager Lane Massey
c/o City of Emporia — CDBG-CV Application
PO Box 928
Emporia KS 66801
Emporia Main Street
727 Commercial
Emporia KS 66801
main.street@emporia-kansas.gov
