Montgomery Thriving Small Business Grant Program

The Montgomery Thriving Small Business Grant Program is a locally administered initiative funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and implemented by the City and County of Montgomery in partnership with Booth Management Consulting, LLC. The program is designed to support small businesses that experienced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing targeted financial assistance across several structured funding tracks. These tracks include capital improvements, relocation assistance, small business incubator support, payroll assistance, and rent assistance, each tailored to address specific operational and recovery needs of businesses within the Montgomery area. The primary purpose of the program is to stabilize and strengthen the local small business ecosystem by enabling businesses to recover from pandemic-related disruptions, maintain employment, and invest in long-term sustainability. Funding is distributed as reimbursement grants, meaning recipients must incur eligible expenses and provide documentation for reimbursement. The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and applications are reviewed as they are received, with rolling award decisions made throughout the application period. Applicants are limited to applying for one grant program at a time, though owners of multiple businesses may apply separately for each entity. Funding scope varies by program track, with awards ranging from up to 10000 dollars for incubator support to up to 75000 dollars for capital improvement projects. Eligible uses include renovation and construction costs, relocation expenses, startup and operational costs for newer businesses, payroll expenses for employee retention or rehiring, and rent obligations to prevent displacement. However, strict restrictions apply, including prohibitions on using funds for personal expenses, debt repayment, speculative investments, luxury expenses, or any costs not directly tied to business operations or incurred within the program period. All expenditures must comply with federal Uniform Guidance requirements. Eligibility requirements are clearly defined and include businesses with between 1 and 50 employees and annual revenues of 5 million dollars or less. Applicants must demonstrate financial hardship due to COVID-19, be in good standing with the City or County of Montgomery, and be actively operating at the time of application. Only for-profit businesses are eligible, and they must commit to remaining within the city or county for at least one year following the award. Additional requirements include tax compliance and absence of conflicts of interest with program administrators. The application process offers multiple submission methods, including online submission, in-person delivery to City Hall, or scheduled telephone appointments. Applicants must provide comprehensive documentation, including business formation documents, proof of COVID-19 impact, financial statements, tax returns, and detailed project or budget information depending on the funding track. Program-specific documentation such as contractor estimates, payroll records, or lease agreements may also be required. Applications that are incomplete or inaccurate may be delayed or denied, and applicants are given one opportunity to correct deficiencies. Applications are accepted during a defined window from May 11, 2026 through June 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM. Awards continue until funds are exhausted, and decisions are communicated in writing following evaluation. The evaluation process assesses eligibility, compliance, and allowable expenditures, with recommendations submitted to city and county administrators for final approval. Weekly submission and decision cycles ensure timely processing. Following award completion, recipients must complete a closeout process, including certification of fund use and final accounting, with follow-up surveys conducted approximately 30 days after project completion. Program administration involves coordination between Booth Management Consulting, which handles application intake, eligibility review, and compliance monitoring, and the City and County of Montgomery, which oversee outreach, final award decisions, and funding disbursement. Applicants may direct questions to the program email address provided, ensuring centralized communication throughout the application and award lifecycle.

Ensure all documentation is complete and accurate before submission; clearly demonstrate COVID-19 financial impact; align expenses strictly with eligible cost categories; submit early due to first come first served processing