Additional Funding For Fairfax Small Business Grants Approved

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — On Tuesday, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved additional funding for the Fairfax Rise grant program created to help small businesses and nonprofits during the pandemic.

The $20 million in new funding supplements the original $25 million for the program. All of this funding comes from the federal CARES Act allocation to the county. The Town of Vienna also provided $1 million in funding.

Grants can be used for critical operating expenses such as employee pay and benefits, working capital, equipment, inventory and rent. The grants do not have to be repaid.

"Small businesses are at the heart of Fairfax County’s economy. There is significant need across the community for support and we saw a huge response to the Fairfax RISE program,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay. "I’m proud we could expand this program and support even more of our small businesses."

The county received over 6,200 applications and chose over 2,000 to receive grants based on a random lottery. The additional funding will increase the total grant recipients to at least 4,000.

According to data from the county, 95 percent of applicants were businesses. Among more than 6,200 applicants, 83 percent have one to 10 employees.

At least 30 percent of the Fairfax RISE funding is set aside for minority-owned, veteran-owned and women-owned businesses. Among the applicants, 41 percent are women-owned, 49 percent are minority-owned and 5 percent are veteran-owned.

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

Grant amounts are based on the number of full-time -employees. A business or nonprofit with one to 10 employees would receive $10,000, an applicant with 11 to 25 employees would receive $15,000 and an applicant with 26 to 49 employees would receive $20,000.

Applications were open from June 8 to 15. Additional applicants receiving grants will be notified by July 28.