Highland EDA’s Incentive Grant Applications Are Now Available

In Highland County, applications are now available for the Economic Development Authority’s Incentive Grant Program.  The funding for the grants comes from the Board of Supervisors and the grants help with start-up costs or expansion costs for small businesses.  Grants range from $2,000 to $5,000 per business.

Betty Mitchell has more.  She is the Economic Development Officer of the Highland EDA.

“Some of the purposes for which the grant funds can be used include purchasing equipment, lease security deposits, down payments if they’re going into a commercial location, some minor repairs and renovations, utility connection fees, some advertising and marketing expenses and, also, job training,” says Mitchell.  “So, what it doesn’t pay for is normal operating expenses.  So, things like rent and monthly utilities, payroll, taxes are not allowable expenses.”

The EDA’s Incentive Grant application is available on the Highland Chamber’s website, www.highlandcounty.org,  and on the Highland County website, www.highlandcova.org .   The application also requires the submission of a business plan, marketing information and budget information for the business and for the use of the grant.

“This is a program that we do as a reimbursement, so we need to see proof that people have spent the money ahead of asking for reimbursement or give us an invoice and we can pay a vendor directly for something that was in the budget,” says Mitchell.

The EDA’s Incentive Grant application is due November 17.

“In addition to the funds that are available through the Highland EDA’s Incentive Grant Program, the Tourism Council also has Marketing Grant opportunities,” says Mitchell.  “In the past, sometimes there’s maybe been a little confusion in the minds of businesses about which one they should apply for, should they apply for both?  So, the Tourism Council has agreed to host, along with the EDA, a How to Apply Grant Workshop and that’s going to be held on Thursday, September 28, at 7pm at The Highland Center.  We’ll have copies of both applications there the evening of the event and also display them on a screen, so that people can see what we’re talking about as we walk through them.  Registration for the event is not mandatory, but it is recommended.  That can be done by emailing thefarmhouseva@gmail.com .”

The Tourism Council’s Marketing Assistance Grant applications are due October 31.

“One of the things that we’ve always had available here in Highland County, I think the last twenty some years, is counseling through SCORE and Jim Martin is the person to contact if you need more help, maybe on either your business plan, marketing plan, or filling out the application,” says Mitchell.  “He’s got copies of both the Marketing Grant application from Tourism and also the EDA’s Incentive Grant.  He can be contacted at Jim.Martin@scorevolunteer.org.”

For more information about all of these resources, you can email highlandeda@htcnet.org