Application Cycle is Open for OTR Small Business Grants Totaling $500,000

              OTR Chamber’s Small Business Relief Program Application Period Runs                 Wednesday, May 27th - Sunday June 7th  

 

Small businesses in Over-the-Rhine and Pendleton neighborhoods who have experienced a significant decline in revenue and other losses during the COVID-19 crisis have from today, Wednesday, May 27th, until Sunday, June 7th, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. to apply to the OTR Chamber’s Small Business Relief Program. Eligible small businesses can apply for up to $20,000 to use for working capital such as payroll, rent, and other fixed costs - https://www.otrchamber.com/smallbusinessfund

 

The OTR Chamber's Small Business Relief Fund is to help stabilize and strengthen OTR's most vulnerable local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, by removing challenges and barriers to reopening doors under new guidelines. This grant-program is an opportunity to fill current funding gaps, including covering small business expenses associated with re-opening during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to providing financial support, grantees will receive access to critical technical assistance and small business development services through the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), a certified Community Development Corporation (CDC).

 

ELIGIBILITY:

To be eligible, small businesses must meet the following criteria:

  • Be located within OTR/Pendleton boundary
  • Have physical storefronts (e.g. retail stores, food service, restaurants, bars, barber shops, hair salons, etc.)
  • Have experienced a significant decline in revenue and other losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Have defined amount of funds required to restart, complemented with a business resumption / continuity plan, covering expenses associated with reopening under federal and state guidelines
  • Grantees are required to reopen within 90 days of their specific reopening date designated by the State of Ohio's Responsible Restart Program
  • Additional eligibility requirements and attachments can be found here: https://www.otrchamber.com/smallbusinessfund

 

HOW: 

The application is available on the OTR Chamber’s website https://www.otrchamber.com/smallbusinessfund. The application itself is hosted through funding partner Main Street Ventures grant platform, Submittable.

 

WHEN: 

The grant cycle closes on Sunday, June 7th at 11:59 p.m. 

 

About the OTR Chamber’s Small Business Relief Fund

The goal of the OTR Chamber's Small Business Relief Fund is to help stabilize and strengthen OTR’s most vulnerable local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by removing challenges and barriers to re-opening their doors under new guidelines. In addition to providing financial support, grantees will receive a one-year membership to the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), a certified Community Development Corporation (CDC) who provides access to critical technical assistance and small business development services through their SBA-funded Women’s Business Center operating out of OTR’s own Union Hall. The OTR Chamber is also partnering with the OTR-based Cincinnati Development Fund to administer the program.

Three organizations are leading the launch of the OTR Chamber’s Small Business Fund: Main Street Ventures and Urban Sites (and Urban Sites related family foundations) are each contributing $100,000; Sycamore Capital is committing $50,000. Together, this group has raised half of the recovery funds. Companies and individuals interested in donating to the fund should send an email to [email protected] or visit https://www.otrchamber.com/backontherise 

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About Kelly Adamson

Kelly Adamson is the Executive Director of the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce. Adamson leads the organization’s business attraction and retention programs, marketing and communication efforts, the OTR Chamber’s signature events and its safety and beautification initiatives. She assumed her role as Executive Director of Over-the-Rhine Chamber in December of 2016.

Adamson led the creation of Represent, an initiative to unearth barriers and opportunities for minority-owned businesses, with the goal of making OTR the most diverse business district in Cincinnati. She also led the re-branding of the organization, including a new website, interactive neighborhood map and spearheads the organizations 3-year strategic plan. Through her passion for supporting local businesses and amplifying culture, Kelly joined the Board of Directors for the Corporation for Findlay Market in March of 2016. She is also a proud resident of Over-the-Rhine and is dedicated to building on the energy, diversity and inclusion of the neighborhood.

 

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Kelly Adamson                     or         Bridget Castellini

513-470-1379                                     513-515-9673

[email protected]                     [email protected]