Leveraging Town ARPA funds to assist small businesses and non-profits with COVID-19 related expenses and recovery assistance
Town Supervisor Ciaran Hanna today announced the Town of Perinton Recovery Grant Program (RGP), has awarded $200,000 to assist local small businesses and non-profits with COVID-19-related expenses and recovery assistance. Supervisor Hanna directed a portion of the Town’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) economic stimulus and recovery funds to establish the RGP. Tonight, the Perinton Town Board unanimously voted to fund the program and award all 49 applicants with grant funding.
RGP grants were issued up to $7,500 in total, with the average award being approximately $4,000. Of the 49 grants awarded, 80% are small businesses and 20% are non-profit organizations. Among those, 49% are located in the Village of Fairport.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendously negative impact on many small businesses and non-profit organizations over the past several years,” said Hanna. “Now that the worst of the pandemic has passed, difficult economic conditions have left these same organizations struggling as they attempt to recover from increased expenses and reduced revenues. Supporting our community’s small businesses and non-profits in their revitalization and recovery is a top priority. I thank the Town Board and Fairport Foundation for their support of this initiative. We hope these grant dollars will help business owners keep their doors open, protect local jobs, support community recovery, and increase the resiliency of businesses in the Town and Village.”
The Town partnered with the Fairport Foundation, a 501(c)3 established in 2011 to support the Fairport Perinton business community, to help administer the program and evaluate applications. Scoring was based on impact on revenue, COVID-19-related expenses, pivot procedures, and the unique recovery experience of each small business and non-profit organization.
Small businesses are defined by New York State as having 100 employees or less. Applicants were required to operate a small business or non-profit within the Town of Perinton. Applicants averaged 27 years in operation and 10 employees.
