More Funding Provided For Fairfax Small Business Grant Program

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Additional funding for the Fairfax Relief Initiative to Support Employers (RISE) grant program will provide grants to remaining eligible businesses and nonprofits that applied. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved up to $12 million for the program. The Town of Vienna is providing $1 million as well.

To date, the grant program's total funding totals $58 million. All funding has come from the county's portion of federal CARES Act funds. Grants do not have to be repaid.

The program is aimed at providing relief to small businesses and nonprofits in light of the pandemic's financial impacts. Grants can be used for critical operating expenses such as employee pay and benefits, working capital, equipment, inventory and rent. A minimum of 30 percent of funding is allocated for minority-owned, veteran-owned and women-owned businesses — more than two-thirds of applicants fall within these categories.

So far 1,966 grants have been awarded, with the total amount being $21,490,000. Grants by supervisor district include 311 each in the Mason and Providence Districts, 284 in the Sully District, 232 in the Hunter Mill District (includes Town of Vienna) 217 in the Dranesville District, 168 in the Mount Vernon District, 160 in the Lee District, 141 in the Braddock District, and 138 in the Springfield District.

Because the new funds will help remaining businesses that are eligible and applied, the Fairfax RISE program will not be accepting new applications. Another option for small businesses is the Rebuild Virginia Grant Fund for small businesses. On Tuesday, Gov. Ralph Northam said he expects to have news soon about the state's small business grant program. The governor said he expects eligibility for businesses will be expanded in the next application wave.