Winston-Salem City Council approves new $3M grant program for small businesses, nonprofits

The Winston-Salem City Council unanimously approved a new $3 million program designed to help local nonprofits and small businesses stay afloat. 

The Recovery Grants program will provide up to $25,000 to businesses struggling to make mortgage, rent or utility payments due to the pandemic.

A total of $1 million will be available to social service nonprofits. Another million will be set aside for travel, tourism, hospitality, and arts nonprofits. The last million will be reserved for small businesses. 

Winston-Salem businesses with fewer than 25 employees that were established on or before January 1, 2020, may qualify for the grants. Nonprofits can qualify if they serve low-income areas and have a budget of less than $1 million. 

During a discussion related to the program at a finance committee meeting last week, Councilmember Annette Scippio said administrators should prioritize marketing and accessibility during the initial rollout. 

“If it's going to go to the most needy, we have to do non-traditional methods to identify them and to get them on board and not make it cumbersome through our processes," said Scippio.

The program will be funded through the federal American Rescue Plan and administered by United Way of Forsyth County.