The Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties announces today the newly created Minority Owned Small Business Grant Program. The program has been launched by Google and added to by Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States.
Google gifted $50,000 to the Community Foundation with the goal of supporting minority owned small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Kaiser Permanente contributed another $25,000, bringing the total amount of funding available to $75,000.
“Google is committed to supporting minority owned small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19,” said Laurel Brown, Head of Community Development US- East for Google. “Through this partnership with the Community Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, Google will help local, Loudoun County businesses receive critical funding and support during this difficult time.”
“Small businesses provide social and economic benefits to communities which strengthens the health of the people in those communities, especially in communities that experience inequities and injustice,” said Ruth Williams-Brinkley, region president, Kaiser Permanente. “We’re proud to partner with Google and support the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties because the health of small businesses is essential to creating living-wage jobs and career opportunities for many people, especially those who have been hard-hit by the pandemic.”
The Community Foundation invites minority owned small businesses to apply to receive grants of $5,000 to $10,000. Organizations eligible to apply will demonstrate 51% ownership identifying as African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, or Native American and residents of Loudoun County. Eligible businesses also must demonstrate that they are located in Loudoun County with annual net revenues less than $250,000, or less than $500,000 for businesses with three or more full-time employees.
The Loudoun Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will partner with the Community Foundation to serve as an application review committee. Businesses hit hardest by COVID-19 will be prioritized for funding.
“We know that small businesses have struggled throughout the pandemic. We also know that businesses owned by people of color have been disproportionately impacted in so many ways,” said Amy Owen, president of the Community Foundation. “We’re grateful for Google and Kaiser Permanente for their leadership to help create equitable opportunities in the Loudoun business community.”
Funds are expected to be distributed no later than February 1, 2021. Eligible businesses can apply by visiting https://funding.communityfoundationlf.org. Applications are due by January 19, 2021. Anyone interested is applying was invited to attend an online pre-application workshop on January 5, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.; a secondary pre-application workshop will also be held on January 5 at 10:30 a.m. with access to Spanish-language interpretation. Recordings of the pre-application workshops can also be found by visiting https://funding.communityfoundationlf.org.
Inquiries are welcome to Nicole Acosta, Director of Grants, Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counites. The Loudoun Small Business Development Center is partnering with the Community Foundation to offer assistance to applicants. To request assistance or for inquiries, please contact Nicole at 703-779-3505 X3 or [email protected].
