SAFFORD – A trio of entities that support local business are offering financial help amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
OneAZ Credit Union is offering $2,000 Emergency Community Impact Grants to 100 nonprofit organizations statewide to cover financial hardship created by the pandemic. Applications are accepted through May 1.
Go to https://bit.ly/2UE3OJC for more information and to apply.
Arizona Community Foundation announced it will match the first $50,000 in gifts to its Graham/Greenlee COVID-19 Community Response Fund, which is to assist nonprofit organizations and community groups in Graham and Greenlee counties that are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The community response fund will support the health and well-being of our friends and neighbors most directly affected by COVID-19 ,” said Angie Laskarides, regional director for ACF of the Gila Valley. “While we remain hopeful that preventative measures will minimize the spread of the outbreak in southeast Arizona, the time to act is now.”
To contribute to the Graham/Greenlee AZ COVID-19 Community Response Fund, visit azfoundation.org/covid19 and select the Gila Valley tab.
Local First Arizona, which promotes small business in the state, announced it is making mini-grants to cover costs including employee payroll and rent to microenterprises.
“It’s a devastating and uncertain time to be a small business owner in Arizona. Everything you love is on the line, but the community you’re ingrained in is still at top of mind. We are echoing the voices of small businesses across the state: debt is not a solution for our smallest businesses. We ask others to join us, the health of our local economy and state depend on it,” said Local First Arizona founder Kimber Lanning.
Business that will qualifiy for assistance are those with zero to three and have less than $250,000 in annual revenue. Priority will be placed on business owners with children under 18 at home and families reliant on the business as the sole income. Only one application per business will be accepted for the Small Business Relief Fund.
To learn more, to apply or to contribute to the fund, go to www.localfirstaz.com/small-business-relief-fund.
