Dunwoody announced that small businesses can apply for a second round of financial assistance to persevere through the pandemic.
Phase two of the Dunwoody Cares Small Business Grant Program aims to help retailers, restaurants and service providers, according to the city. The program will reimburse payments toward rent, lease or mortgages for property used for business purposes to help lessen the pandemic’s effects on business operations.
Maximum grant size varies between $10,000 and $30,000, depending on the size of the business.
If a business has fewer than two full-time employees or began operating after March 1, 2019, the city can award a grant up to $10,000. These type of businesses did not qualify under Dunwoody’s first round of grants, which took place at the end of 2020. The larger grant size applies to older businesses with more employees.
The city said this round of grants will focus on retailers, restaurants and service providers. Professional services — including legal, advertising, architects, accountants, financial advisers and institutions, insurance, engineers, and consultants — do not qualify for the second wave of grants. Dental providers, medical providers, real estate brokerages and grocery stores are also omitted.
The city hasn’t finalized the total budget for the program, but Dunwoody spokeswoman Jennifer Boettcher told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that they’ll stop accepting applications if they reach $500,000 worth of qualified applicants. Grants will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.
The program is funded using Dunwoody’s allotment of federal coronavirus relief funds. The city received nearly $5.6 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds from DeKalb County, which shared roughly a fourth of its $125 million with its dozen cities.
To apply, visit www.dunwoodycares.com.
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