Mayor Horrigan Announces Small Business Relief Program

Akron providing one-time $10,000 grants

City of Akron Press Release
From the desk of Stephanie Marsh, Chief Communications Officer
Published: 08-03-2022

Akron, Ohio, August 3, 2022 — Today, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan announced a new program in the city to provide eligible small businesses with one-time $10,000 grants. The program will utilize $1M in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Applications open August 15 and are due by Sept. 2, 2022. This grant program will be administered by the Greater Akron Chamber.

“Our small businesses are the lifeblood of Akron,” said Mayor Horrigan. “They have weathered several storms in the past couple of years between the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing shutdowns, supply chain issues, staffing shortages, and more. The ARPA funding allows us to help these vital establishments to stay in business right here in Akron and I could not be more excited to get these investments into the hands of our business owners.”  

In order to qualify, a business must meet the following requirements:

• Be a legal for-profit business;
• Must be located within a Qualified Census Tract (QCT) in Akron;
• Must have 2 to 50 workers on payroll (including full-time or part-time employees, and owners actively working in the business); 
• Be current with income tax and property tax obligations for the business with the City of Akron and County of Summit;
• In operation in the City of Akron on or before January 1, 2020;
• Must be able to describe how the business has been negatively impacted due to a reduction in business activity or increase in supply chain costs related to COVID-19 pandemic or related public health restrictions and orders.

To see a full list of requirements please click here.

Allowable uses of the funding include:

• Rent or mortgage costs for the business location;
• Payroll and benefits;
• Utility costs for the business location;
• Investments to meet reopening guidelines, such as purchasing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other workplace improvements directly related to mitigating the spread of COVID-19;
• Remote access equipment and connectivity, such as computers, software, printers, and/or online meeting platforms for employers to enhance social distancing; and/or technology that enables businesses to develop and manage service/product delivery to enhance social distancing.

Applications will open on Monday, August 15 at www.gaccovid19.org/akrongrant and close on Friday, September 2. The city aims to award grants in October 2022.

An informational webinar will be hosted on Monday, August 15. More information coming soon.

See the full Notice of Funding Opportunity at akronohiorescue.gov/businessrelief.

All program questions should be directed to the Greater Akron Chamber at [email protected] or via the program information line at (330) 237-1219, or mailed to 388 South Main Street, Akron, OH 44311.

For further information, contact:
Greater Akron Chamber
Phone: (330) 237-1219
E-mail: [email protected]