OTR small businesses have until Friday to apply for relief grant

CINCINNATI (FOX19) - Small businesses in Over-the-Rhine can apply for grants from the OTR Chamber’s Small Business Relief Fund.

Eligible businesses may apply for up to $20,000 to use for working capital such as payroll, rent, and other fixed costs.

Applications are being accepted from Wednesday, May 27 through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 29.

The relief fund was created to help small businesses in OTR and the Pendleton area recover and reopen after the devastating effects of COVID-19, the chamber said.

The program is also providing technical assistance and small business development services through the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI), a certified Community Development Corporation (CDC).

Small businesses eligible for COVID-19 relief from OTR Chamber of Commerce

To be eligible, small businesses must meet the following criteria:

Be located within the OTR/Pendleton boundary
Have physical storefronts
Have experienced a significant decline in revenue and other losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Have defined amount of funds required to restart, complemented with a business resumption/continuity plan, covering expenses associated with reopening under federal and state guidelines
Grantees are required to reopen within 90 days of their specific reopening date designated by the State of Ohio’s Responsible Restart Program
Additional eligibility requirements and attachments can be found here: https://www.otrchamber.com/smallbusinessfund

The application is available on the OTR Chamber’s website https://www.otrchamber.com/smallbusinessfund.