The Fulton Area Development Foundation is distributing $585,000 in CARES Act funding from Callaway County to local small businesses and nonprofits.
Any Callaway County business with fewer than 50 employees that's had to make modifications or close for any period of time due to COVID-19 can apply for a Small Business Recovery Grant of $1,500 per business.
For example, businesses might have had to temporarily close, reduce hours or alter methods of delivering services.
To apply, businesses must share some basic information as well as an explanation of how COVID-19 has impacted the business and what it has done to stay successful. There is no ongoing paperwork or reporting. No repayment is required.
"We want you to tell us your story," Callaway Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tamara Tateosian said. "How has COVID-19 impacted your business? It's your story - if it's one page, it's one page. If it's 10 pages, it's 10 pages."
The Foundation and Chamber want to hear about everything from closures to innovative business practices.
The Chamber mailed the application to local businesses. The application, along with other COVID-19 resources, are also available at callawaychamber.net/covid-19-resources/.
"We want to make sure we get the message out to everyone and that's one of the reasons we mailed this to the businesses," Tateosian said.
The county has made $500,000 available for business grants and $85,000 for nonprofit grants.
Applications will be accepted through Aug. 7. Applications should be fully completed, notarized and returned to the Callaway Chamber of Commerce.
The Callaway Chamber of Commerce has held two webinars so far to answer questions and explain the grant. Another is scheduled at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
This is one of several ways the county has chosen to distribute CARES Act funds. Round 1 paid for expenses related to reopening and Round 2 can be used to cover 80 percent of expenses related to improvements such as installing touchless bathroom technology and automatic light switches.