Indian River County Launches Next Phase for the Small Business Grant Program

May. 27, 2021

Vero Beach, FL – The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners approved $1-million in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act funding to support local businesses that were negatively impacted by COVID-19. The county’s Small Business Recovery Grant Program will provide up to $10,000 per business in grant funds. It is a grant, not a loan, so funds do not need to be repaid.

The application window opens Thursday, May 27, 2021.  Grants will be paid out to eligible small businesses until funds are exhausted. Click here to access and complete the Small Business Recovery Grant Application online. The Indian River Chamber of Commerce will process the applications as they are submitted, then forward them to county staff for final review and processing.

Businesses that previously received funding through the county’s Small Business Recovery Grant program or from the City of Sebastian’s grant program that used CARES Act funding, are not eligible to apply for additional funding. 

“The Indian River business community continues to recover from the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Indian River County Board Commissioner, Peter O’Bryan. “By allocating $1 million in additional funding for the Small Business Grant Program, local businesses will be able to receive the assistance they need to get back on track and continue to serve our residents and visitors.”

“I know our local small businesses appreciate the County’s assistance in providing additional funding for the Small Business Recovery Grant program”, adds Helene Caseltine, Economic Development Director at the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce. “Our business community is still quite fragile but getting stronger each day. This additional funding will be a big help to them.” 

For-profit, locally-owned small businesses are eligible to apply, especially those that were required to close or severely limit their business operations as a result of the pandemic. This includes: hospitality businesses and those serving special events; hair and nail salons; fitness centers; specialty retail; small family farms and non-medical aesthetic services such as tattoo parlors.

Eligible businesses must have 25 or fewer employees, including the owner, and be based and operating in Indian River County. Funds may be used for business expenses incurred after March 3, 2021. Funds may not be used for the exact same expenses that were paid by other federal programs. 

Additional information on eligibility and the Small Business Recovery Grant program is available here, or call/email the Indian River Chamber at 772-567-3491,  grants@indianrivered.com.

The County and the Indian River Chamber encourage business owners who seek business counseling services to contact the Florida Small Business Development Center at Indian River State College for an appointment.