SALISBURY — The city of Salisbury and the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to create a pilot Small Business Assistance Program with the expectations to advance local businesses in a variety of ways. 

“This pilot program would just be another tool in our toolbox to support businesses,” Planning and Neighborhoods Director Hannah Jacobson said. 

At the Salisbury City Council meeting on April 2, Jacobson and President of the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce Elaine Spalding outlined what the program entails and the kind of businesses that are eligible for it. 

While Salisbury already has several grant options for local businesses, Jacobson said the city wanted to find unique methods to aid ones not located in the downtown area. 

For the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget, Salisbury set aside $30,000 for a pilot program where the Rowan Chamber would administer the grants and acquire funding from private donations. Since July of last year, city staff and the chamber have been trying to “clarify goals and expectations” for the program. 

“This is not necessarily to launch a new business, but to expand an existing business,” Jacobson said. 

Jacobson described the program as an “alternative” to a bank loan. 

Eligible businesses will be within Salisbury city limits, have 10 or fewer employees or full time equivalents, and have the correct permits to operate. Businesses that are applying do not need to be a member of the chamber to receive funding. 

Some of the scoring criteria topics that will be taken into consideration are devising valid reasons for assistance, the business model’s sustainability, how the business helps Salisbury, if the business is in an “economically disadvantaged” location, if the business owner has low-to-moderate income, and if it matches with the Forward 2040 plan. 

Businesses are able to get between $5,000-$10,000 and given $30,000 is the total grant amount, only three to six grants are expected to be initially awarded. 

Spalding said these grants would not have to be paid back, though recipients will be required to turn in reports on how they spent their money and if it was beneficial for their business. 

“Council understood that cash flow can be an issue for small businesses, so these would be offered as an upfront grant,” Jacobson said.

One of the main uses for the grant funds are for “permanent improvements.” 

“Things that can’t be picked up and moved easily, things that would stay with the building. Awnings, floorings, lighting, built-in benches or counters, things like that,” Jacobson said. 

The grant can also be spent on equipment, but it can not underwrite “operational expenses” like rent, payroll, financing debt or utilities. 

A review committee is going to be in charge of assessing grant applications. The committee will consist of Spalding, a member of Salisbury’s staff, and additional people with ties to the business community. 

The chamber will make an official announcement regarding the program on April 25 at their Minority Business Trade Show. Grant applications will be available on the chamber’s website the following day and the deadline for submissions is May 31. 

At the end of the presentation, the council voted to approve the pilot program. 

“When you look at Salisbury, we are made up of a lot of small businesses,” Council Member Harry McLaughlin said. “This is a great opportunity to support those businesses outside just the downtown area.”