This column is sponsored by BizLaunch, a division of Arlington Economic Development.
In our last Small Business Focus, we announced the Arlington Small Business GRANT 2.0 and focused on eligibility. Now that applications are open until October 20, we thought we would take this opportunity to explain how small businesses can take advantage of GRANT 2.0 funds.
Likewise, for GRANT 1.0 released in 2020, GRANT 2.0 funds can be used for the following:
- Retain and / or support employees
- Restore financial resilience
- Increase technological capacity
- Creation of new marketing strategies
- Revise business plans
Many businesses that received GRANTS last summer have used the funds to pay rent and payroll taxes. However, some have used their grant to revise business plans or to take better advantage of technology.
With the Arlington Small Business Grant, @Community_ETC will continue to create and collaborate! The Educational Theater Company will use the GRANT to continue employing local artists and focus on new creative initiatives to reach their community safely. #BizStrongArlVA pic.twitter.com/kWIaTiJQYI
– Arlington Econ Dev (@AEDBizInvest) July 2, 2020
For example, Educational Theater Company used its grant to purchase a third Zoom line to offer concurrent summer camps online. Another example is Compass Coffee, which used its grant to cover marketing expenses to expand its online sales.
Compass Coffee also used some of its funding to revise its business plan. She bought a machine to produce K-Cups and Nespresso pods to add to their product line for customers stuck at home with cravings for their favorite local cup of coffee.
GRANT beneficiary @CompassCoffeeDC is grateful that they were able to continue to serve take out and ensure that their customers always start their days with a fresh cup of coffee. They use the GRANT to develop their delivery service and expand their online store! #BizStrongArlVA pic.twitter.com/dutQXq8RJL
– Arlington Econ Dev (@AEDBizInvest) July 14, 2020
Our goal with GRANT 2.0, as with all of our programs, is to help small businesses continue to thrive. Therefore, even if your company is not selected for the GRANT 2.0 program, you can still take advantage of our ReLaunch program.
With ReLaunch, businesses can access up to eight hours of business advisory services, working with a professional small business consultant on financial management, marketing strategy, business plan review and more . Hear what Jennifer Jones, Creative Founder of Cosmopolitan Plated, says about ReLaunch.
Another aspect of ReLaunch is a resource for developing a website or ecommerce solution for your small business. Since we launched this program earlier this year, several companies have taken advantage of this resource. We recently helped a local beauty salon on Columbia Pike develop their first website.
A longtime Columbia Pike staple, Beauty Fair Hair Stylists is best known for bringing threading to the Arlington community. Work began in mid-summer on their website, and within a month the hairdressers at the beauty salon now have a new, safe and secure website. Check out their new website today.
With GRANT 2.0, ReLaunch, Business Intelligence, Consultations, and more, BizLaunch has the tools you need to help your small business start, grow, and scale. Learn more about BizLaunch at www.bizlaunch.org.
