This week, Governor Mike Parson announced two new grant programs to assist businesses during the pandemic.
According to a release from Economic Development of Sedalia-Pettis County, one is a Small Business Grant Program, which was developed to provide relief to small businesses and family-owned farms for reimbursement of business interruption costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For-profit businesses and family-owned farms that employ 50 or fewer employees can use funds to cover facility redesign and labor; air-filtration systems; e-commerce website design; worker salaries during closure or reduced hours; and necessary costs to make the business more resilient as a result of COVID-19, among others.
Applicants can seek up to $50,000, and $30 million is available statewide. Full program guidelines, as well as application information, can be accessed at https://ded.mo.gov/content/small-business-grant-program.
The other is a PPE Retooling Program, which is designed to increase production of personal-protective equipment needed to help contain the spread of the virus. The new program will help companies produce PPE in Missouri as part of the state’s “Show Me Strong Recovery Plan.”
Grant funds will be awarded to reimburse companies facing high PPE production costs. Eligible uses for awarded funds under the PPE Production Grant Program include purchasing equipment and retooling; or upgrading or expanding facilities to increase PPE production.
They can receive a grant amount up to $500,000 per facility for the production of PPE in the Tier 1 category and up to $300,000 per facility for the production of PPE in the Tier 2 category, with $20 million available statewide.
Full program guidelines as well as application information can be accessed at https://ded.mo.gov/content/show-me-strong-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-retooling-program.
If you’re interested in applying for either of these programs and have questions, contact Economic Development of Sedalia-Pettis County.