Grants available for Antioch small businesses reeling from lockdown

Program focusing on retailers and personal-service providers

Small businesses in Antioch hit hard by shelter-in-place orders can apply for up to $5,000 each through a new COVID-19 small business grant program.

Applications will be accepted Sept. 28 through Oct. 9, after which up to 60 businesses will be awarded the grants.

“As a city, we want to do everything possible to support our business community, as they are the heart of the economy,” said Kwame Reed, Antioch’s economic development director. “Although we know that COVID-19 has created much uncertainty in the economy, as a city we will do what we can do to bring a level of stability to our businesses.”

The program targets retailers and personal service providers such as barbers, hairstylists, nail salons and restaurants that were forced to close or saw a 25% drop in business due to sheltering orders, Reed said.

To qualify for the program, businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Have a physical location within Antioch.

• Have a current Antioch business license for one year before Jan. 1, 2020.

• Have no more than 25 employees.

• Demonstrate that they were unable to operate due to the shelter-in-place orders or sales were down more than 25% from the previous quarter or the same quarter last year.

The selection process will include an initial screening of applicants, followed by a lottery if the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of grants available.

The money will be restricted to safety expenses, such as the purchase of protective equipment for employees and customers; operational improvement expenses, such as the purchase of equipment and/or furnishings needed to establish outdoor/indoor operation; and operating expenses, such as payment of rent or mortgage, utility bills, inventory and marketing.

The Antioch City Council in late August unanimously approved spending $315,000 from its federal CARES Act fund plus $120,000 from the city’s economic development department to aid local businesses during the crisis.

In addition to recovery grants, business tax license relief will be given to small companies with 50 or fewer employees in the form of rebates, according to a city staff report.

The program calls for the city to work with the Antioch Chamber of Commerce to target businesses and provide educational resources. The chamber, which will vet the grant applications and work with city staff in determining who gets the money, is to receive $15,000 for its efforts.

A business’ status with the chamber will not matter, Reed said, noting everyone is eligible to apply.

More details are at antiochbusinessgrant.com.