About
Grant Amount: $2,500 – $5,000
The City of Scranton, in conjunction with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at The University of Scranton, announce the CDBG Small Business Micro-Grant Program for new or early-stage businesses located in Scranton’s low-moderate-income demographic areas (LMA). Funds, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 per business, will assist with start-up costs, thus contributing to their initial success and continued revitalization of our community. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program provides funding to the City of Scranton to develop and maintain viable urban communities by providing economic development opportunities. CDBG funding must meet the national objective to benefit LMA, including business retention activities. A Business is defined as a commercial enterprise that has at least one (1) or more employees, one (1) or more of which is the principal and owns the enterprise at the time of application. This includes both part-time and fulltime employees. A Business is a private for-profit business entity; corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship that is legal, licensed, and operating entities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
requirements
- Business must be located in a qualifying Low-to-Moderate service area within the City of Scranton, as determined by census tract data. Link to map: https://arcg.is/14zCnT
- Business must be locally owned and non-franchised
- No minimum number of employees required outside the principal owner are eligible
- A newly established business is defined as opening from January 1, 2021, through the present day
- Applicant must have the required local, State and Federal licenses, permits, or registrations to operate their business in the City of Scranton
- Applicant must be registered with the Single Tax Office
- No applications will be considered if the current business or entity is in arrears for City taxes or has any other outstanding liens or judgements
- Applicant must complete a SBDC at The University of Scranton business education series or business consultation designed to enhance the business and owner’s chance of success
- Applications must include a recommendation from the SBDC at The University of Scranton that the business owner has successfully completed the required educational series or business consultation.
- All grant awardees will be required to enter into a CDBG Grant Agreement with the City prior to issuance of grant funds.
- Grant funds not meeting HUD criteria, will need to be repaid (clawed back) to the City
- Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis
- Only complete applications will be processed.
