The Poloncarz administration has announced a new grant program called Erie County Back to Business, funded with $20 million from the federal CARES Act.
The funding, approved by Congress in the spring, will be used to help small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The county will work with 43North in this direct financial assistance to eligible small businesses with 50 or fewer employees.
The program will distribute funds based upon diversity and need, especially for those businesses that have not received any COVID aid to date.
The focus will also be on minority and women-owned businesses, businesses in highly distressed zip codes, those seeking to hire new workers or bring back laid off or furloughed employees, as well as businesses still shut down due to the pandemic.
The deadline to apply is Nov. 2.
