Small Business Assistance Grant Program

The Small Business Assistance Grant Program is administered by the City of Greenville, North Carolina as a local funding initiative designed to support small businesses operating within specific geographic and economic boundaries of the city. The program is structured to provide financial assistance to qualifying businesses for eligible operational or growth-related expenses, with the overarching goal of strengthening local economic development, particularly within designated census tracts. As a municipal program, it reflects the city’s commitment to fostering small business resilience and sustainability within underserved or targeted areas. The primary purpose of the program is to provide grants of up to 50,000 dollars to eligible small businesses to help offset qualifying expenses. While the specific allowable uses of funds are not explicitly detailed in the provided materials, the framing of “qualifying expenses” suggests that funds are intended to support business operations, stabilization, or expansion in alignment with city-defined criteria. No information is provided regarding cost-sharing or matching requirements, indicating that the funding is likely structured as direct grant support without a required financial contribution from recipients. Eligibility for the program is clearly defined and includes multiple criteria that must all be met. Businesses must be physically located within the Greenville city limits and specifically within a qualified census tract, indicating a targeted geographic focus. Additionally, businesses must be independently owned and operated, operate fewer than six locations, generate no more than 5,000,000 dollars in annual gross sales, and employ no more than 100 employees. These requirements collectively ensure that the program is focused on true small businesses rather than larger enterprises or franchises. The application process includes a mandatory pre-application engagement component in the form of a required workshop. Applicants must attend one of the scheduled workshop sessions on May 27, 2026, with options for both virtual and in-person participation. This requirement serves as a gating mechanism, ensuring that applicants receive guidance on program requirements prior to submission. Registration for the workshop requires submission of standard contact and business information through a form. The formal application period is defined and time-bound, opening on June 1, 2026 and closing on July 1, 2026. Applications must be submitted within this window, and attendance at the workshop is a prerequisite for eligibility. While the specific evaluation criteria and application components are not described in the provided material, it can be inferred that compliance with eligibility requirements and completion of all required submission steps will be essential for consideration. For additional information and applicant support, the program provides a direct contact in the form of a city representative. Interested applicants can reach out to Lori Guttman via phone at 252-329-4607 or via email at LGuttman@greenvillenc.gov. The presence of a named contact suggests that applicants may receive guidance or clarification during the process. No information is provided regarding award notification timelines, performance periods, or whether the program recurs annually, though the structured timeline suggests it may be a periodic offering.