Several of the first recipients of small business relief grants issued by SelectCobb via the federal CARES Act were recognized last week by the Cobb Board of Commissioners.
They include Leah Cozzo, a co-owner of Marietta CrossFit on Canton Road, whose business received $20,000, seen above with Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell and below with all commissioners and Cobb Chamber of Commerce and SelectCobb leaders.
Birrell said in her weekly newsletter that “the owner was so appreciative of the grant and that it allows her business to remain open and her employees to work The grant helps her stay in business.”
The first batch of grants has totaled $7.5 million (out of $50 million approved by commissioners), and to 409 businesses in the county.
Here’s more from SelectCobb, the economic development unit of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, about the program and the initial grantees:
The grants, designed to help businesses mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19, ranged from $20,000 to $40,000. The funding was made possible through a portion of the County’s disbursement of The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, an economic stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Congress in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The local grants are designed to help area businesses pay for rent, utilities, personnel payments and personal protective equipment.
Approximately 56 percent of grant recipients are minority-owned businesses, while 53 percent are women-owned, and 8 percent are veterans.
“These grants are essential in providing some measure of hope and relief to the business community,” said Mike Boyce, chairman of the Cobb County Commission. “We thank the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and members of the selection committee led by Steve Ewing for their hard work in evaluating the applications. They all truly reflect what is best about the Cobb community.”
The county-Chamber partnership is being extended for another round of grants, and the deadline to apply is Aug. 21 at 5 p.m.
More information, criteria and eligibility requirements can be bound at https://selectcobb.com/grants/. Applications are open until August 21 at 5 p.m.
Related content
- Boyce makes ‘nice ask for masks,’ won’t issue Cobb mandate
- The East Cobb Open for Business Directory
- East Cobb News COVID-19 Resource Page
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