Amherst County disburses $450K to 48 local small businesses

Amherst County announced Tuesday it has disbursed $450,000 in CARES Act funding to 48 area businesses that were affected by the pandemic. 

The local Economic Development Authority and the Amherst County Finance Department partnered to manage the grant program.

“As a small business trying to navigate through the ups and downs of this pandemic, we are grateful to the Amherst County EDA and others for their assistance in helping us acquire financial relief such as the Back in Business and the CARES Act grants,” Derin Foor, owner of the Loose Shoe Brewery, said in a statement. “These grants have been a much-needed lifeline to ease the financial burden of reduced revenue for small businesses and help them prepare for the unknown we are facing.”

A separate relief program for qualifying area businesses will be open through the end of June 2021, or until funds are depleted. Eligible businesses can receive $15,000 for rent or mortgage payments and utility relief for up to six months. So far, six businesses have received a combined total of more than $77,000 from the $500,000 fund, which was awarded to the Amherst EDA by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. 

The grant review committee consists of local business owners, county employees and community leaders. 

“This year has been a struggle, and I am thankful for the county and the EDA for making these crucial funds available to the businesses of Amherst County,” Amherst County Chamber of Commerce Director Katie Mayo said in a statement.

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