Small businesses, family-owned farms, manufacturers in Missouri offered grants for PPE

The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) is offering grants for small businesses and family-owned farms impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, as well manufacturers using their facilities to produce personal protective equipment.

The Small Business and Family-Owned Farm Grant Program, funded through the federal CARES Act, provides grants to small businesses and family-owned farms to reimburse expenses associated with business interruptions and closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The program is supposed to “fill in the gaps” federal funding couldn’t cover, Maggie Kost, DED director of communications said.

“Small businesses are a huge contributor to the state’s economy and we’re seeing a slow and steady return in the economy, but we certainly are nowhere near where we were pre-COVID,” Kost said. “We want to do what we can to get money flowing in the economy again and spending flowing in the economy again, and small businesses play a huge role in that.”

Giving priority to industries that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19, the DED began accepting applications earlier this week. The deadline to apply is Aug. 31.