Small business support grants of up to $10,000 are coming down the pipeline for Jennings County businesses through the Jennings County Economic Development Commission (JCEDC). The county has been awarded $250,000 of COVID-19 Response funds through a competitive grant by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affair (OCRA). The JCEDC applied for grant dollars on behalf of the county under the support of the Jennings County Commissioners, which will allow small businesses in North Vernon, Vernon, and in every township to apply for relief funds. Upon receiving the good news from OCRA, Commissioner Matt Sporleder expressed his excitement and hope for Jennings County businesses to weather the storm with the help of this grant.
With these OCRA funds, the JCEDC will be offering COVID-19 Disaster Relief & Assistance grants to Jennings County for-profit businesses employing 50 persons or less and who have been in operation at least 6 months. The primary goal of the grant is help businesses retain employees and pay for operational costs (rent/mortgage, new technologies required for remote work, health/safety expenses, or equipment purchased to help sustain business operations). Albert Jackson, President of the JCEDC Board of Directors, looks forward to the economic stability that these grants will bring to our community and expressed his pride for Jennings County to be awarded these state funds. Kathy Ertel, Executive Director of the JCEDC is deeply grateful for the support of the county commissioners in her pursuit of these funds and encourages local small businesses to apply. “We want to make the grant process as easy and straightforward as possible. The impact of COVID has cut deeply into the budgets and operations of our local establishments, and our aim is to help alleviate that financial burden as much as possible. We want everyone to stay in business.”
Head’s up business owners! The timeframe for submitting this grant starts next week and lasts 8 days. The JCEDC office will host a Facebook Live event on Monday morning, August 31 at 11:00am on the Jennings County Economic Development Facebook page to go through the application and answer questions for anyone who might be interested.
COVID-19 DRAG applications will be available on the website (jenningsedc.com) beginning Tuesday, September 1. The JCEDC office is offering individual support for any interested business owner, and appointments may be requested by calling 812-346-2388. Grant applications must be submitted between September 4 – 11 by emailing all completed and signed documents to Anna Walker at office@jenningsedc.com.
