The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) will be opening a grant program for small businesses located in rural communities on Sept. 28. During the COVID-19 pandemic, LISC’s Small Business Relief Grant program has provided 3,000+ entrepreneurs with grants totaling more than $48 million.
The LISC is targeting 900 grants between $5,000 and $20,000 for an $18 million goal. Grants can be used for operational costs, rents or payroll. Only small businesses located in rural communities are eligible at this time. Rural communities are defined as having a population of 50,000 or less.
As part of our continuing commitment to elevate our impact in rural America, LISC is inviting small business owners in rural locations across the country to apply for the LISC-Lowe's Rural Relief Small Business Grants program.
LISC will support small businesses and enterprises affected the COVID-19 across the country, especially those in underserved communities, including entrepreneurs of color and women- and veteran-owned businesses that often lack access to flexible, affordable capital.
Non-profit organizations are ineligible for the relief funding program at this time, but may be eligible for later rounds of funding.
Applications will be reviewed based on criteria designed to prioritize particularly challenged businesses, and the final grantees will be randomly selected from the top scoring applicants. Applications are being accepted in “rounds”. You must submit a new application for each round in order to be considered for funding in that round. The next round opens on Monday, Sept. 28.