Hartford small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic could benefit from a fresh $800,000 infusion of emergency grant money.
The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Mayor Luke Bronin and corporate donors to the Hartford Emergency Small Business Grant Program announced the additional funds on Thursday morning.
This second round of cash will go mostly to the approximately 100 qualifying small businesses from the first round that were unable to receive grants due to funds running out.
The program, administered by Capital for Change, was first launched back in April. In May, Travelers and Bank of America each committed $125,000 in additional funds after more than 300 businesses applied.
The program has doled out $1.25 million so far to approximately 160 Hartford-based businesses, which have used the assistance mainly for employee payroll and lease costs, according to the Hartford Foundation.
Hartford businesses with revenues not exceeding $500,000 are eligible.
The program is focused on providing support to minority-owned and women-owned businesses, as well as others in low-income neighborhoods that have lacked access to federal or state COVID-19-related financial relief.