ChamberRVA and Facebook Create RVA Small Business Relief Fund, Providing Grants to Richmond Region Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
ChamberRVA announces the creation of an RVA Small Business Relief Fund (Relief Fund), a new program intended to provide unrestricted grants to qualifying businesses in the Richmond Region impacted by COVID-19. This effort is a partnership between ChamberRVA and Facebook. The first round of funding comes exclusively from Facebook, as part of their COVID-19 relief efforts, which has generously contributed $250,000 to seed the fund.
“The RVA Small Business Relief Fund is an extraordinary example of creative collaboration within our business community,” said Brian Anderson, ChamberRVA, CEO. “We are grateful for the generous seed funding from Facebook and the immediate support it will provide to our region’s small businesses. We are all in this together, and this fund demonstrates that.”
“Small businesses are essential to the local economy, and we are pleased to partner with ChamberRVA to support grants for local businesses in the greater Richmond community. Henrico is our home, and we hope that these grants will help provide relief to small businesses dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Amber Tillman, Community Development Regional Manager, Facebook.
The RVA Small Business Relief Fund aims to provide immediate financial assistance to Richmond Region’s small businesses in the form of unrestricted grants to support rent, employee salaries, and operating costs as a stop-gap relief pending the release and distribution of federal and state aid. It is expected that the RVA Small Business Relief Fund will disburse grants to applicants in successive funding rounds, as contributions allow.
The Greater Richmond Chamber Foundation will act as the fiscal agent for the Relief Fund and will manage all contributions. A grant advisory committee will review all applications and make decisions regarding grant awards. Applications will open Wednesday, May 13 at 9:00 a.m. and close Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. All applicants will be informed of a decision by Wednesday, May 27, 2020.
More information about the program, including the eligibility criteria for small businesses that can apply, can be found at www.chamberrva.com/relief.
