The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism (ADPHT), the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), and the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) received approval to proceed with a $50 million grant program for Arkansas businesses in industries significantly impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The Arkansas Legislative Council this morning approved a business interruption grant for certain Arkansas businesses in the personal care, tourism, travel, recreation and hospitality industries. The grant will provide reimbursement for a portion of specific eligible expenses incurred by businesses in these industries between March 1 and Sept. 30, 2020.
The grant application period will open Monday, Nov. 16, and close on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Grants will be awarded on a prorated basis depending on the total number of applicants and the amount of reimbursement requested.
The program anticipates making grant awards in late December.
“In my visits with business owners over the past several months, I’ve been impressed with the measures they have taken to protect customers and employees and to adapt business models that have kept them viable during this pandemic. The grant will help businesses that were disrupted by the precautions necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Governor Asa Hutchinson.
Arkansas small businesses having 250, or fewer, full-time employees located in Arkansas may seek reimbursement for expenses associated with COVID-19 mitigation or certain listed business interruption expenses due directly to local, state or federal government COVID-19 directives. Details regarding the grant rules can be accessed herehttps://arkansasready.com/news/grant-to-aid-the-arkansas-service-and-hospitality-industries/.
