Dover NH CARES Grants Program Seeks to Help Small Businesses

DOVER – The city has been successful in helping businesses with loans to meet the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. It is now offering a total of 14 grants worth $ 3,000 to small businesses. There haven’t been a lot of companies looking for grants yet, so the city is trying to get the word out.

The city launched the Dover CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Support) program in April 2020, to provide CARES Act relief dollars to eligible taxpayers, residents, businesses and nonprofits affected by the pandemic.

Initially, this included land tax relief, financial aid, resources for housing and food, extended payment plans for water and sewer utilities, exempt fees, and loans for small businesses. Through the Dover Business Cares loan program, the city provided financial assistance in the amount of $ 5,000 each to 12 businesses last year. Seven of the companies have already paid off the loans, getting a 10% discount, according to the city. Parker said this included restaurants from all walks of life, from restaurants like Ember Wood Fired Grill to service providers like Amour 24 Barber Shop, Rutland Studios Tattoo Parlor and RSP Studio Custom Framing.

“On the business side, we have seen positive responses from people who have used the funds,” Deputy City Manager Chris Parker said. “They made it through the storm to get to where they are today.”

New program is offering $ 3,000 now

The city is offering a new Dover CARES Relief Grant program to help growing small businesses through grants, instead of the loan program it previously used.

The Microenterprise Assistance Grant and the Small Business Assistance Grant provide reimbursement for expenses incurred by the business to respond to the coronavirus or to help compensate for a business disruption.

The grants provide up to $ 3,000 in assistance to eligible businesses operating in Dover. Both grants have been available since late May, but so far there have been far fewer applicants in this funding round, Parker said.

“As part of the new Dover CARES Business Grants program, we are working through the Economic Development Office to make it known that we have up to $ 3,000 per applicant, which can be awarded to businesses,” said Parker. “We have $ 42,000, or 14 grants, available and at this point we have an application under review this week, but we expect to have more applicants.”

The Microenterprise Business Assistance Grant is available to sole proprietorships and small for-profit businesses with five or fewer employees, and the Small Business Assistance Grant is open to small for-profit businesses with two to 15 employees.

“When we look at these applications, we look at the viability and health of the business financially and otherwise,” Parker said. “We are conservative because we want to make sure this is going to be useful and have a return on investment by the community.”

Mike Somers, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association, recently spoke with Foster’s Daily Democrat about how restaurants in particular are suffering financially, following the sudden depletion of the Fund. revitalization of restaurants established by the American Rescue Plan Act. Although data specific to New Hampshire has not been released by the US Small Business Administration, only 105,000 restaurateurs nationwide received the grant, leaving 265,000 in the pipeline of applications like Roots Vegan Café & Juice Bar. in Dover and The Striker in Portsmouth. Somers said local subsidy programs like the one in Dover are essential down the home stretch to help restaurants survive, and he urged “more municipalities to take advantage of the US bailout allocations set aside to support small businesses and restaurants ”.

Parker said he knew the need was there, as businesses looked for ways to overcome lingering challenges. He said the city is working to connect with businesses that may need help and urges any business interested in the grants to apply. Funds are also available for community members who need help due to challenges related to the pandemic.

“I think people are always looking at how the future is going to change for them, before they try to adjust to what that future looks like,” Parker said. “Any help we can give, whether guided or financial, I think it’s important for us to be an active supporter of the vitality of the community. “