As COVID-19 relief money runs out, hundreds of small business owners in Philadelphia could be getting some grant money, writes Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza for WHYY.

Minority-owned businesses operating in lower-income communities will be prioritized to get grants between $2,500 and $10,000 each.

The Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance grant program, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the statewide Community Development Financial Institution network, has a $10.5 million budget.

In contrast to other programs, there is flexibility in how the grant money can be spent.

To be eligible, businesses must employ fewer than 25 workers; generate less than $1 million in annual revenue; and prove that the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic shutdown affected their companies. 

“A lot of our businesses are still struggling,” said Tacony Community Development Corporation coordinator Amarynth Ruch. “Many of them have recovered. Unfortunately for a lot of them they already had to close because of the impacts from the pandemic.”

While she works with about 120 businesses that could apply, she noted that likely only about a dozen would qualify. This is partly due to many businesses not being in operation when the pandemic first began in March 2020.

Read more about the grant money that could be coming to Philly in WHYY.

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