Over 100 Richmond small businesses to receive water crisis relief grants
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The city of Richmond has decided which small businesses will receive grants meant to help them recover from January's water crisis.
On Wednesday, April 16, city officials announced that 117 of the small businesses that applied for its Small Business Recovery Grant Fund will each receive a $2,500 or $5,000 grant.
Many small businesses were significantly impacted during Richmond's six-day water crisis in early January, with the city and multiple surrounding counties having little to no water pressure during that time. For example, 8News spoke with local ice cream shop Ruby Scoops, which lost nearly 100 gallons of ice cream.
“We are grateful to be able to offer some measure of respite for small businesses in the City who are feeling the financial strain caused by January’s water crisis” said Mayor Danny Avula in a statement on Wednesday. “Being able to distribute these funds is not just about relief, it’s about showing our small business owners that Richmond stands with them and that we are committed to this recovery, together.”
According to a release from the City of Richmond, the fund is supported by a public-private partnership administered by the Metropolitan Business League (MBL) and funded by $500,000 from the City of Richmond Economic Development Authority, Dominion Energy and Altria.
The funds will be distributed to recipients later this month after MBL has "received all required documentation from selected applicants," the city's release explained.
For more information on the grant's eligibility requirements and selection criteria, visit the MBL website.
