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NEGA Grant and Loan Programs

Northeast Georgia Business Alliance is dedicated to expanding access to capital opportunities for business owners throughout Northeast Georgia.

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We Provide Funding

Northeast Georgia Business Alliance Foundation in partnership with the Athens-Clarke County Government is offering Small Business Relief Grants for Small Business Owners impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Eligible businesses operating in the Athens-Clarke County can apply to receive up to $1,000 to $50,000 to cover a wide array of working capital needs and general operating expenses (personnel, rent, utilities, PPE, etc.) 

The deadline for application submissions is

September 30, 2020 at 5 p.m.

The NEGA Small Business Relief Grant has been established to assist businesses of up to 10 employees with various operational and overhead expenses. The program will be funded by way of a portion of the Athens-Clarke County disbursement of funding via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

These funds are intended to be used by communities to deal with the impacts of COVID-19. A detailed description of how the funds will be used must be included with each application submittal.

All NEGA Small Business Relief Grants will be awarded by October 15, 2020.

Funding

Business Impact Goal

Covid-19 Economic Relief Grants

Cash Flow Grant

$1000.00 Cash Flow Grants are designed to provide small business owners with a small capital injection to cover economic losses due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.  Proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital needs and general operating expenses.

Business Impact Grant

$5000.00 Business Impact Grants are designed to provide small business owners with a small capital injection to cover economic losses due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.  Proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital needs and general operating expenses. 

Job Creation Grant

Job Creation Grants range up to and between $10,000-$50,000 and are designed to provide small business owners with funding to cover economic losses due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.  Proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital needs and reposition operating expenses.

About the Process

All applicants are strongly encouraged to participate in the activities below. The NEGA Financial Oversight Committee will evaluate and rank each applicant according to need and completion of the recommended criteria below. The FOC will award the final grant determinations by ranking points to the completion of recommended criteria and a majority vote.

Recommended Criteria 

  1. Complete Orientation
  2. Application will be sent via email invite.
  3. Complete Needs Assessment Interview
  4. Complete Criteria Checklist
  5. Enroll SBA FDIC MSSB/ CHAMBER Capacity Builder Program

Info Line:

(706) 530-0448

Our

Criteria

ALL applications must be submitted by the deadline and meet the eligibility criteria below:

  • Between 1-10 employees
  • Business must have a physical location in Athens-Clarke County
  • Business must have a current business license before being awarded the grant
  • Agree to perform at least one Public Benefit Commitment (See Public Benefit
    Requirements)
  • Business must be a for-profit secular organization (Religious/faith-based, or nonprofit institutions are not eligible).
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR GRANTS ONLY

The following are the basic eligibility requirements for applicants to be considered for grant funding through NEGA Small Business Relief Grant.  The NEGA Financial Oversight Committee will review each application to ensure that all eligibility requirements are met. All eligible applications will be reviewed by an independent selection committee. It is vital for all applicants to submit the required accompanying documentation to ensure a complete application submittal.

How to get started:

  1. Review the criteria below to ensure that your business qualifies.
  2. Gather required documentation below.
  3. Upon completing orientation, you will be provided with a link to complete the online application in full.
    Please note: This grant is for For-Profit Businesses only.

 

Documentation Required

Documents needed to support a small business owner’s grant application 

  • Complete Application 
  • Tax ID
  • Business Certificate of Existence- One of the following:
    • Business License
    • Articles of Incorporation
  • Financial Statement -One of the following
    • Projected Financial Statements that include month to month cash flow projections, for at least a one-year period.
    • Tax Returns

Our team of Subject Matter Professional will assist in helping you to gather and format these documents

APPLICATION PROCESS

The following information will be needed to complete the online application

  • First Name, Last Name,
  • Business Name
  • Date Est.
  • Federal Employee Identification
  • Number (EIN)
  • Mailing Address:
  • City:
  • State:
  • Zip:
  • Bus. Line:
  • Website (Optional)
  • Owners Name
  • Mobile:
  • Email:
  • Business Ownership Type, Non-Minority, Minority-Asian, Minority-Black, Minority- Hispanic, Minority-LBGTQ, Minority-Native American, Minority-White Female, Other (Optional)
  • Grant Amount Requested
  • Industry sector are you seek funding for
  • District location of the business
  • Affiliation with NEGA
  • How long have you been in business
  • Number of Employees W-2/1099
  • Have you applied for the EIDL or PPP Loan
  • A separate budget is required for each activity or project for which funding is requested
  • Why and How will you utilize this funding
  • What are the anticipated outcomes should you receive this funding
  • How many jobs or opportunities will it create for others in your community?
  • If requesting marketing, promotional, or technical funding, How will it help improve your business?

A separate budget is may be required for each activity or project for which funding is requested

All participants are encouraged to attend our Financial Management and Capacity Build Sessions

Bring the following documents to your session:

  • Tax ID
  • Articles of Incorporation
  • Business Licence
  • Projected Financial Statements that include month to month cash flow projections, for at least a one-year period.
  • Our team of Subject Matter Professional will assist in helping you to gather and format these documents
Q: If I received PPP funds or an SBA EIDL loan, am I eligible to apply for the grant?

A: Yes. PPP and SBA EIDL Recipients must disclose how much funding they have received at the time of their application. If you have received multiple types of funding, please combine all of the funds and present one figure within the application.

Please note: You can only be awarded one grant between the JDA and NEGA program you can not receive funding from both.
.

Q: How do I find my Business Certificate of Existence?

A: These documents can be found on the Secretary of State website. 

Visit https://ecorp.sos.ga.gov/ BusinessSearch and search for your company
After you choose your company listing that indicates “Active/Compliance”, click on the button at the bottom of the page that says “Filing History”
Once in filing history, click on the listing that says “Business Formation”. The documents should be included here.
*If your listing does not show your Certificate of Organization, we can accept your Articles of Incorporation in its place.
*If your listing does not include the Certificate of Existence, we can accept your Annual Registration in its place.

Please submit your 2019 Business License as well as the receipt showing us that you have paid for your 2020 Business License. If your application is funded, we will need an updated copy of your 2020 business license prior to the disbursement of any funding. If you are an existing business and have not registered with the Athens-Clarke Government Business Tax Division then you must complete your Business Occupation Tax Certificate requirements before begin awarded any grant funding.  Visit site: https://www.accgov.com/138/Business-Occupation-Tax

Q: When Is the Application Deadline and When will Grantees be notified of Awards?

Once the application period closes, the Financial Oversight Committee will review all applications to ensure eligibility. All eligible applications will be reviewed by the committee to recommend grant recipients and grant amounts, per their eligibility. A scoring matrix will be used to review each application so that it is a fair and equitable process. The committee will be comprised of individuals from  a diverse group of industries, including:

Banking;
Certified public accountants;
Legal;
Small business;
Government;
and others.

All Grants will be awarded by October 15, 2020.

Q: Do you know of any other loan programs that I can apply for?

A: Yes. Below is a list of Grant and Loan programs that NEGA has partnered with

 

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