Businesses can apply for new ‘Arkansas Ready for Business’ grants

 

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Wednesday announced a new program to provide grants to Arkansas businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new program, called Arkansas Ready For Business, will provide grants from $1,000 to $100,000 depending on the number of employees to assist with COVID-19 related expenses, such as as personal protective equipment (PPE), deep cleaning, signage, hand sanitizer dispensers, marketing and others.

Eligible expenditures must be made between March 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020, the website states.

The purpose of the Ready for Business Grant Program, according to the website, is “to assist companies in protecting their employees and visitors while establishing customer confidence.”

The grants will be administered by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.

Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. They are set to open at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29 at arkansasedc.com.