Small Business Grant Applications Open In Fairfax County

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Applications opened Monday for the $25 million grant program designed to help small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the financial side of the pandemic. Applications are open between June 8 and June 15.

The Board of Supervisors voted last month to create the Fairfax Relief Initiative to Support Employers (Fairfax RISE) using money allocated from the federal CARES Act. Grants do not have to be repaid.

Award amounts are based on how many full-time-equivalent employees a business has. 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.

Grants can be used for employee pay and benefits, working capital, equipment inventory, rent and other critical business operating expenses.

Eligible businesses and nonprofits must have at least one full-time-equivalent employee and less than 50 employees at all locations. Businesses and nonprofits must have been in operation for over one year, and businesses should have a valid business, professional and occupational license.

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, but those with the principal place of business in the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church are not eligible.

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.

Interested applicants can participate in a webinar Tuesday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. by registering. To participate, call 415-655-0003 and use access code 161 180 4501.

For more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/economic-success/fairfaxrise.