The Dallas Small Business Center is offering taxpayer-sponsored grants for small businesses through its inaugural Microgrant Program, which the Dallas City Council approved on Wednesday.
Grants will be up to $5,000 “for small businesses that experienced negative economic impacts or disproportionate impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic,” per the Small Business Center (SBC) website.
“We want to be intentional about this opportunity to support small businesses who have continued to be challenged by the effects of COVID on their businesses,” SBC director Joyce Williams said in a statement. “It is our hope these microgrants will have a larger ripple effect for supporting [the] sustainability of these small businesses.”
The online application period opens on March 5. Per the website, to be eligible, businesses must:
- Be officially registered with the Texas Secretary of State and operate as a legal for-profit business;
- Be classified as small businesses under the size standards of the U.S. Small Business Administration;
- Been in existence on or before March 1, 2018;
- Be a registered vendor or supplier with the City of Dallas; and
- Be physically located and operating within the Dallas city limits or have been a disproportionately impacted business in Dallas as defined by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
“This innovative microgrant program is set to provide a lifeline for small enterprises facing economic challenges, offering a unique opportunity to access financial support that can make a substantial impact on their operations,” the City said, according to the news release. “Recognizing the vital role small businesses play in our community, Small Business Center aims to empower and uplift entrepreneurs who are the backbone of our local economy.”
Look here for a listing of the eligible and ineligible use of grant funds. For additional questions, contact Jessica Nichols at [email protected].
The SBC was created in December 2021 to streamline development among the city’s workforce and promote business diversity and entrepreneurship programs.
