Garrett County Launches Kick-Start Small Business Grant

A new local grant program will assist Garrett County’s small businesses and their employees through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Garrett County Economic Development and the Garrett County Development Corporation are proud to announce the Garrett County Kick-Start Grant program. This grant program replaces the Small Business Pandemic Interim Loan program previously offered.

An initial $200,000 fund has been established for the purpose of providing one-time, short-term financial support to small businesses impacted by COVID-19 that meet the program’s eligibility requirements. The funding is designed to be used for business expenses not covered by state or federal programs.

“We sincerely appreciate our partnership with the Garrett County Development Corporation in providing this funding to our local business community,” said Michael Hough, Director of Economic Development. “We anticipate grant funds will be depleted quickly and encourage eligible small businesses to apply as soon as possible.”

To be eligible for the grant of up to a maximum of $2,500, the applicant must be a for-profit small business, with 2 to 25 employees or a restaurant or other food service business of any size, and be native to and located in Garrett County. The business must also be able to demonstrate financial impact/damage due to the COVID-19 pandemic and show documentation of applying for other financial assistance from at least one other source.

“The Garrett County Economic Development Corporation is pleased to partner with Garrett County Economic Development in the creation of the Kick-Start Small Business Grant Program. In this time of uncertainty, this grant program will provide assistance to many local businesses,” said M. Elizabeth Georg, Chair Garrett County Development Corporation.

The grant application will be available online on both the Department of Economic Development’s (www.gcedonline.com) and the Garrett County Development Corporation’s (www.gcdevcorp.com) websites on Monday, May 11, 2020, at 8:30 a.m.

Grant funds, which will be released to successful applicants commensurate with government executive orders establishing reopen dates, will be on a first-come, first-serve basis until the pool of funds has been depleted.