Small business owners in Salisbury have until noon on May 31 to apply for a small business assistance grant.

The Rowan Chamber of Commerce is implementing this $30,000 pilot small business grant on behalf of the city of Salisbury, which they approved at its last council meeting.

The grant was first announced at the April 25 Minority Business Trade Show at Livingstone College and just recently Elaine Spalding, president of the local chamber, discussed the grant with Amy Williams on the Salisbury Post’s Real Local Stories podcast, sharing the various criteria and an overview of the grant.

Spalding said that applications for the grant are live on the chamber’s website, rowanchamber.com, with the deadline set, and as noted on the site, no extensions will be made.

Along with the application, additional information must accompany it including details on how the grant money will be used and your small business plan. The Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Small Business Center has offered to provide assistance with those needing help with those business plans.

Spalding said they hope to give the grant money to several small businesses in the community and told certain criteria for the money, as set by the city of Salisbury.

The grant, as noted on the chamber website, is designed for existing small businesses that have 10 or less employees, and the business, “because it is the city of Salisbury grant program,” said Spalding, “you need to have your business within the city of Salisbury.”

It can be a home based business rather than a brick and mortar one, but again, she said, you have to be within the city of Salisbury

Criteria for the use of the money was also shared as Spalding said the city of Salisbury does not want the money used for rent or payroll or other operational expenses, but for it to be “an investment in your business.”

Examples of uses as indicated on the website, could include, pieces of machinery that the business needs, improvement on the facade of the building, a new awning, signage, flooring and more.
For additional information about the grant or the application, go to the chamber website or reallocalstories.com to hear the entire podcast with Spalding.