ALEXANDRIA, VA-Sixty-four Alexandria entrepreneurs are receiving up to $7,000 to help grow business thanks to the 2024 Small Business Resiliency (SBR) Grant Program sponsored by the City of Alexandria.
The program, administered by the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC), was designed to help small businesses located in historically disadvantaged areas of the city overcome challenges in accessing essential resources.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our community,” said Mayor Justin Wilson. “I’m so proud that we were able to provide these hardworking Alexandria businesses some much-needed support so they can do what they do best and flourish.”
In all, more than 140 business owners applied for the program. Here is some data about the 64 awardees:
- Almost all grant recipients have 10 or fewer employees.
- No awardee had previously received funds from a City of Alexandria grant program.
- There was an even split between brick-and-mortar locations and home-based businesses.
- Funds were awarded across seven zip codes in Alexandria.
- Five recipients — 7.7% — reported a disability, just over the 7.3% rate in Alexandria’s population at large.
- Recipient Demographics:
- 37.3% Black or African American
- 30.5% White
- 20.3% Asian
- 6.8% Multi-racial
- 3.4% Prefer not to say
- 1.7% American Indian or Alaska Native
- Recipient Gender:
“I want to thank our partners and the City staff whose efforts made this opportunity possible,” said City Manager James Parajon. “Executing on the priorities set out by City Council has given members of our community the opportunity to grow their businesses in a way that will benefit the whole City.”
To qualify, the SBR Grant required that businesses operate within Alexandria, employ 100 or fewer staff members, and have revenues under $250,000 before December 31, 2023. They also had to be current on local taxes and free from bankruptcy.
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