Marion opens second round of ARPA small business grants

Marion has opened the second round of its Business Innovation and Support grants for small businesses.

The city is now accepting applications for the program, funded by American Rescue Plan Act dollars, until funds are exhausted. Applications are available on its website.

The program is being administered as a partnership between the city and Chamber of Commerce.

In total, around $450,000 of ARPA funds will be used for the grants after the Marion City Council approved the allocation earlier this year.

The grants are for small businesses with one to 10 employees. They provide funding ranging from $5,500 to $15,500, and each award comes with up to five hours of “mandatory business counseling” by a pre-approved business coach.

The Marion City Council voted to approve the first round of its small business grant funding earlier this month after the city launched its application for the grant program back in July as part of its overall ARPA funding allocation plan.

Businesses must be located in Marion and are required to have been fully operational by Sept. 1, 2020.

Twenty local businesses were awarded funding totaling $293,156 earlier this month.

Businesses receiving $15,500 include:

Other awards and their amounts are:

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