HOKE COUNTY: Hoke County Small Business Resiliency Grant Program

By Press release submission

Jun 21, 2020

Hoke County issued the following announcement on June 17.

Hoke County Small Business Resiliency Grant Program

Hoke County Government has established a Small Business Resiliency grant program to assist qualified local businesses that suffered economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is supported through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The program will provide grants of up to $5,000 and is targeting small for-profit businesses with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees. The goal is to help businesses retain employees and maintain economic stability during the crisis.

To apply, businesses must operate within the Hoke County geographic service area, have a physical establishment occupying commercial space within Hoke County, have less than $1,000,000 in gross annual revenues, have not been approved for funding through other grant or forgivable loan programs related to COVID-19 relief (Payroll Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan, SBA Debt Relief, or SBA Express Bridge Loans).

Funds may be used for:

Working capital to meet payroll, pay rent and utilities or purchase inventory
Purchasing machinery and equipment (with or without installation costs)
Professional services including engineering, architectural, local permits or fees, business consulting services, but only as specifically approved by County staff;
Marketing materials and advertising including website development and servicing

Certain business types are ineligible to apply, including:

Residential or at-home businesses
Franchises
Hotels or motels
Liquor stores
Financial/lending institutions
Private membership or fraternal organizations/businesses
Adult Entertainment Businesses
National/regional chain businesses
Bars and night clubs
Vape shops and hemp shops
Tattoo parlors and body piercing shops
Gambling businesses

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on July 17, 2020. Applications will be reviewed by the Hoke County Small Business Resiliency Grant Program Committee and should be submitted to:

County Manager’s Office

Attn: Regina Hailstock

227 N. Main Street

P.O. Box 210

Raeford, NC 28376

The Program will be administered by the Economic Developer:

William Wright

Hoke County Economic Development

101 N. Main St.

Raeford, N.C. 28376

910-875-6113

Original source: http://www.hokecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=417