WEST PLAINS, MO – If your business is still trying to recover from COVID-19, the ARPA Small Business Grant may be able to help. The Small Business Grant Program provides assistance to small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 of up to $25,000. The Missouri General Assembly has appropriated $10 million to the Department of Economic Development (DED) to provide assistance directly to small businesses through this grant. Of the total available funds, $2 million are reserved for minority or women-owned small businesses.
The final guidelines for the grant have been released and applications will be accepted starting November 16, 2022 at 10 am. To be eligible for funding, the applicant must meet the following requirements: be a Missouri-based, for-profit entity; employ fewer than 50 employees; have been open since before January 1, 2020; be currently operating and plan to remain in business through the calendar year 2023.
A more in depth list of requirements for the ARPA Small Business Grant can be found in the published guidelines, which can be found at ded.mo.gov/arpa. The Missouri Department of Economic Development has also published a recorded webinar about the application process. These tools are available on the same website.
Assistance applying for this grant is available from the Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) and the Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC). OzSBI Business Mentors and the SBDC Regional Business Small Business Consultant Melvin Steele will be set up at OzSBI on November 15 and 16 from 1-5 PM. To make an appointment for assistance with your ARPA Small Business Grant application please call 417-256-9724.
