The city has extended the application deadline to March 24, so potential recipients should act fast. Mayor Steve Noble announced the launch of the City of Kingston’s ARPA Small Business Grant Program here. The push will help local for-profit businesses that operate within city limits and have been negatively affected by COVID-19. The funding is aimed to help businesses stay open, protect jobs at risk due to the pandemic, and spur community recovery.
Kingston businesses may apply for grants to help offset the effects of revenue losses tied to the pandemic. The city expects to award almost 100 small businesses a one-time cash grant of up to $10,000. Priority will be given to minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses that meet eligibility requirements.
The population in Kingston is roughly 15% Black, based on a recent census report. The challenge of securing financing to help start or grow businesses is an ongoing problem for many establishments, especially Black-owned businesses. Some 47% of Black small business owners predicted that the success of their business will be conditional on their ability to secure funding, as well as grow their customer base.
Remarking on the grant program, Noble told The Daily Freeman, “We don’t want any eligible Kingston businesses to miss out on this opportunity for a cash infusion with no match and will be going door-to-door to speak to every possible applicant.”
There are several criteria businesses must meet to be eligible for funding. The businesses must “have 50 or fewer employees; have been operating in the City of Kingston before October 1, 2021; not facing any pending litigation or legal action; not have received alternate federal, state, or local grant funding to cover the same costs in this application.”
Interested businesses can gain more details and apply here.