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Mecklenburg Small Business Assistance Grant
Mecklenburg County
ABOUT THE GRANT
The Mecklenburg County Virginia Small Business Assistance Grants are a suite of six competitive grant programs administered by the Mecklenburg County Department of Economic Development & Tourism to support small business growth, revitalize commercial corridors, and strengthen the county's visitor economy. Applications open on an annual cycle, and each program within the suite runs as its own competitive application. Together, these programs reflect the county's focus on supporting the sectors that have historically sustained Mecklenburg County, including small family businesses, agritourism operations, and the lake-based recreational economy.
Four of the six programs are direct small business grants offered as 1:1 matching grants that are paid as a 50 percent reimbursement to the applicant after project completion. The Business Growth Grant provides up to $50,000 to fund a one-time expense related to general business needs such as equipment, tools, professional services, or computer hardware and software, with four grants awarded per cycle. The Commercial Property Demolition Grant provides up to $50,000 to support the demolition of blighted or underused commercial structures and help move properties toward redevelopment, with two grants awarded per cycle. The Home-Based Business Transition Grant provides up to $15,000 to help home-based businesses transition into commercial locations, with two grants awarded per cycle. And the E-Commerce Grant provides up to $10,000 to help small businesses establish or enhance their virtual presence, add online payments or shopping tools, or strengthen their cybersecurity, with two grants awarded per cycle.
Two additional programs support Mecklenburg County's tourism economy. The Tourism Development Fund is a Mecklenburg County Tourism Zone Incentive designed to attract larger, transformational tourism-related projects that bring significant private investment, create new quality jobs, secure needed amenities, and serve as catalysts for long-term economic development. The Tourism Marketing Support Grant provides financial assistance to eligible tourism partners for marketing projects that attract visitors, encourage overnight stays, and strengthen the county's visitor economy.
Common eligibility requirements across the programs include being a locally owned small business physically located in Mecklenburg County, holding a current business license (where required at the applicant's location), being in good standing with all county programs, ordinances, and taxes, and signing up for the county's email listing for business resource information. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible for any of the programs, and home-based businesses may apply for some (but not all) programs, depending on program-specific rules.
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NOTES
Heads up: These are quick summaries of each program in the suite. Each individual grant has its own qualifications, timelines, and application details that you'll want to review before applying. You can find those specifics at the grant website linked above.
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