Grant Funding Programs

About The Resiliency Fund

The focus of the Resiliency Fund is to support black and brown small minority businesses that are continuing to operate and plan to operate for the remaining calendar year of 2021 and beyond.  The various Tiers represent the support minority Businesses of color need to bridge the financial gaps the COVID-19 Pandemic has disproportionately affected Minority Businesses. The Resiliency Fund also provides an opportunity for businesses to receive support to allow them to pivot during these challenging times.

The Resiliency Fund Tier Eligibility

Tier 1 Option A: The Resiliency Fund- Operational Emergency Relief Grant $1,000

The Resiliency Fund- Operational Emergency Relief Grant Fund is designed to support black and brown minority businesses that need funding to help stabilize and/or address an immediate hardship in their business. The focus of these funds is to support smaller minority businesses that are continuing to operate and plan to operate for the remaining calendar year of 2021. The Operational Emergency Relief Grant level is $1,000.00 for eligible businesses.

Tier 1: $1,000 Operational Emergency Relief Grant 
  • Applicants are screened for eligibility.
  • Maximum Revenue 50k or less (2019 Revenues or 2020 if business was started in 2020)
  • First come, first serve: all applicants who are eligible and submit the correct documentation will receive funds until pool runs out for the Application open period.

Application Period:

  • 4 Application periods
  • Application opens on the 3rd Weds each month February, March, April, May). Application open for 10 Days. (Once the application pool is filled, the application portal will be closed)
  • 15 applications per month (maximum)

Application materials required:

  • In Business 6 months or more
  • Certificate of Good Standing with the State of Ohio
  •  Proof of minority ownership
  •  Signed IRS Form W-9
  •  Color copy of State or Federal ID or Driver’s License
  •  Business Bank Account Statement (3 months prior to application date.  Account must have business name on statement)
  •  Documentation showing need (outstanding invoice, bill, rent payment due, etc.)
  •  Description of how funds will be used
  •  Proof of Business Revenue

Tier 1 Option B: The Resiliency Fund- Operational Emergency Relief Grant $2,500

The Resiliency Fund- Operational Emergency Relief Grant Fund is designed to support black and brown minority businesses that need funding to help stabilize and/or address an immediate hardship in their business. The focus of these funds is to support smaller minority businesses that are continuing to operate and plan to operate for the remaining calendar year of 2021. The Operational Emergency Relief Grant level is $2,500.00 for eligible businesses.

There will be 30 total applications accepted and ONLY 15 applications randomly selected for this period. (Once the application pool is filled, the application portal will be closed).

Tier 1: $2,500 Operational Emergency Relief Grant 
  • Applicants are screened for eligibility.
  • Maximum Revenue $100,000 (2019 Revenues or 2020 if the business was started in 2020)
  • Eligible applicants are selected by lottery.

Application Period:

  • 4 Application periods
  • Application opens on the 3rd Weds each month February, March, April, May). (Once the application pool is filled, the application portal will be closed)
  • 30 applications per month (maximum)
  • 15 Applications selected.

Application materials required:

  • In Business 9 months or more
  • Certificate of Good Standing with the State of Ohio
  •  Proof of minority ownership
  •  Signed IRS Form W-9
  •  Color copy of State or Federal ID or Driver’s License
  •  Business Bank Account Statement (3 months prior to application date.  Account must have business name on statement)
  •  Documentation showing need (outstanding invoice, bill, rent payment due, etc.)
  •  Description of how funds will be used
  •  Proof of Business Revenue

Tier 2: The Resiliency Fund- Community Opportunity Grant Fund $5,000

The Resiliency Fund- Community Opportunity Grant Fund is designed to support black and brown minority businesses that need funding to help stabilize and/or address an immediate hardship in their business. The focus of these funds is to support smaller minority businesses that are continuing to operate and plan to operate for the remaining calendar year of 2021 in the Greater Cincinnati Area (currently Hamilton County and City of Cincinnati). The Community Opportunity Grant level is $5,000.00 for eligible businesses. 

There will be 70 total applications accepted and ONLY 35 applications randomly selected for this period. (Once the application pool is filled the application portal will be closed)

In addition to this opportunity, 5 of the 35 applicants selected will be considered to receive an additional $5,000 to be used to further a business growth opportunity, business model change, upgrade in equipment, or an upgrade in their infrastructure to better increase their ability to provide or deliver their product or service to their customer.

Tier 2: $5,000 Community Opportunity Grant Fund
  • Applicants are screened for eligibility.
  • Maximum Revenue $750,000 ($10,000 Minimum)
  • Eligible applicants are selected by lottery.

Application Period:

  • 3 Application periods
  • Application opens on the 3rd Weds each month March, April, May). (Once the application pool is filled, the application portal will be closed)
  • 70 applications per month (maximum)
  • 35 Applications selected.

Application materials required:

  • In Business 12 months or more
  • Certificate of Good Standing with the State of Ohio
  • Proof of minority ownership
  • Signed IRS Form W-9
  • Color copy of State or Federal ID or Driver’s License
  • Business Bank Account Statement (3 months prior to application date).
  • Documentation showing need (statement on how COVID-19 has affected revenues compared to 2019 Revenues)
  • Description of how funds will be used
  • 2019 or 2020 Business Tax Return
  • 2020 Year-end Income Statement and Balance Sheet or proof of business Revenue from POS account statements

Tier 3: The Resiliency Fund- Catalyst Investment Grant Fund $15,000

The Resiliency Fund- Catalyst Investment Grant Fund is designed to support black and brown minority businesses that need funding to help stabilize and/or address an immediate hardship in their business. These funds focus on supporting smaller minority businesses that are continuing to operate and plan to operate for the remaining calendar year of 2021 in the Greater Cincinnati Area (currently Hamilton County and City of Cincinnati). The Catalyst Grant Fund level is $15,000.00 for eligible businesses. 

There will be 10 total applications accepted, and ONLY 5 applications will be selected for this period. (Once the application pool is filled, the application portal will be closed)

Catalyst Grant Fund to be used to further a business growth opportunity, business model change, upgrade in equipment, or an upgrade in their infrastructure to better increase their ability to provide or deliver their product or service to their customer.

Tier 3: $15,000 Catalyst Investment Grant Fund 
  • Applicants are screened for eligibility.
  • Maximum Revenue $750,000 ($20,000 Minimum)
  • Eligible applicants are selected by lottery.

Application Period:

  • 3 Application periods
  • Application opens on the 3rd Weds each month March, April, May). (Once the application pool is filled, the application portal will be closed)
  • 10 applications per month (maximum)
  • 5 Applications selected.

Application materials required:

  • In Business 12 months or more
  • Certificate of Good Standing with the State of Ohio
  •  Proof of minority ownership
  •  Signed IRS Form W-9
  •  Color copy of State or Federal ID or Driver’s License
  •  Business Bank Account Statement (3 months prior to application date)
  •  Business must provide no more than 8 pages of Pitch Deck for Business. Should describe the Business opportunity and How funds will be used.
  •  All selected applicants will be interviewed.
  •  Funds must be used for Business Growth Opportunity, Business Model changes, Equipment, upgrade to virtual delivery of products and services.
  •  2019 or 2020 Business Tax Return
  •  2020 Year-end Income Statement and Balance Sheet (if requested) or 2020-21 Proof of business revenue. Proof of Business Revenue
  •  2021 Projections

 

This will be a first come first serve basis. Eligible Minority Businesses of color applicants will submit required documentation through the application portal that will be provided. Submission of this application does not guarantee approval or selection. All applicants that receive funding will be required to work with a partner Technical Assistance provider. Please review the required documents needed if selected. Please submit the required information as requested.

A business may only apply for one of the following three Tiers of the Resiliency Fund each Application period. Multiple applications by the business or its business owner(s) will result IN-ELIGIBILITY of any Resiliency Fund

The three levels of the Resiliency Grant will be 2021 application period:

Tier 1-The Operational Emergency Relief Grants ($1,000 or $2,500)– (Active starting February-May 2021)

Tier 2-Community Opportunity Grants ($5,000)– (Active starting March-May 2021)

Tier 3-Catalyst Investment Grant ($15,000)– (Active starting March-May 2021).

There will be a limited amount of grants available for each level. The number of available grants will be listed on each application description.  More grant opportunities may vary depending on available funding.  Each Grant level will have a separate application link for each month. Please review each grant offerings description to determine which will be best for your business.

ONLY CHOOSE ONE GRANT OFFERING TO APPLY FOR EACH MONTH.  YOU WILL HAVE TO COMPLETE A SEPARATE APPLICATION FOR EACH MONTH THAT YOU APPLY. IF YOU ARE SELECTED TO RECEIVE A RESILIENCY FUND AWARD YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY OTHER GRANT OFFERINGS.

The Resiliency Fund is provided by the Urban League of Greater Southwest Ohio and being administered by the Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative (GCMI)

All communication for these Grant offerings will be by email only. Please submit through the Application portal or application portal email address.

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