Financial help coming for Angier small business community
Date Published:Angier Chamber of Commerce is partnering with local leaders to support businesses
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The Angier Chamber of Commerce is partnering with local leaders to help small businesses in the community to survive the current situation caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
“The leaders of Angier are working together to provide grants of up to $3,000 to be distributed to the small businesses in Angier,” chamber director Shelby Blackmon told The Daily Record. “These grants can be used to pay rent, make a dent in payroll or for other vital operating expenses. Small businesses in Angier are being crushed, and we need to get funds into the hands of our small businesses now.”
The grants, which do not need to be paid back, will be provided to both chamber and non-chamber members, with two-thirds going to members and the remainder to non-members.
The program, called the Angier Angel Fund, will be overseen by a five-person panel which is still being formed. The panel will operate independently and will evaluate all grant applications and make all award decisions.
To qualify for the program, recipients must be independently owned companies with less than 50 employees and must have a brick and mortar location in Angier. No chains or franchises are eligible, according to Blackmon.
The application, which will be available starting Friday, will be one page with a few questions. There will be no means testing, collateral or review of the company’s finances.
“We trust small businesses to do what is right for their businesses and employees,” Blackmon said.
“The entire economy is taking a hit right now, but not all industries are seeing an immediate impact,” Blackmon said. “Some companies will not feel the real effects of this until later in the year.”
The fund is accepting donations of any amount, something the organizers of the fund hope will come from the business community itself.
“We are asking those companies and individuals (not currently feeling the effects) to step up now with what they can spare,” Blackmon said. “Perhaps you had a marketing campaign planned that is no longer happening, or a major renovation project that is on hold due to the COVID-19 crisis. We ask that you reprogram those funds and join us in giving the small businesses in Angier a shot in the arm when it’s needed most.”
Applications for grants can be obtained by private messaging on Facebook or by emailing angiercc@angierchamber.org or cadkins@angier.org.
Rick Curl can be reached at rcurl@mydailyrecord.com or at 910-230-2037.