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Matching support doubles Perry Business Support Grant program

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Matching support doubles Perry Business Support Grant program

Provided by Perry Chamber of Commerce
 |  Special to the Chief

The Perry Chamber Foundation was one of four recipients of grant funding from the Iowa Rural Development Council for a pilot Rural Business Initiative. The effort is meant to provide support to rural small businesses and is funded through the Wells Fargo Foundation. The local grant fund of $30,000 has been doubled, thanks to matching support from the City of Perry and Perry Economic Development.

The Perry Chamber of Commerce Foundation reminds Perry businesses that applications for the Perry Business Support Grant will be accepted until Tuesday, Dec. 31.

“It’s a busy time of year to be adding on an extra project like writing a grant application” said Lynsi Pasutti, Executive Director of the Perry Chamber of Commerce, “but the committee felt it was most important to have an earlier deadline so that businesses could receive financial support that much sooner.”

With financial support and educational resources from the Wells Fargo Foundation and Iowa Rural Development Council, the Perry Chamber of Commerce Foundation — along with local partners including the Perry Chamber of Commerce and Perry Economic Development — will facilitate a grant program to support Perry businesses in need of working capital, as well as providing invaluable connections to resources for skill building and networking with the Small Business Development Center and The Iowa Center.

“This is an outstanding opportunity, thanks to the Wells Fargo Foundation, for targeted support of smallbusinesses in small towns,” said Mark Reinig, IRDC Board President. “These four pilot places — Perry, Minden, West Branch, and Pathfinders RC&D Region — have creative concepts to address existing needs and ultimately impact the viability of local businesses and economies.”

Grant applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31 to the Perry Chamber of Commerce and will be reviewed by the Perry Business Support Task Force. Grant requests should be $2,500 -$7,500 with at least 10% matching funds. Applicants will also be required to demonstrate participation in at least one educational opportunity, including but not limited to a consultation with the Small BusinessDevelopment Center or The Iowa Center, enrollment in a class or workshop, or similar endeavor. Eligibleexpenses include working capital for products, equipment, services, marketing, physical improvements,educational courses, networking memberships, or new staffing. Applicants will be notified of awarded grants by Tuesday, Jan. 28.

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“This grant program comes at an opportune time for Perry,” said City Administrator Sven Peterson. “It has been a tough year for our community and Perry businesses have been impacted, on top of facing challenges since the pandemic with staffing, supply chains, rising costs, and declining sales.”

Total funding currently available for the local grant program is $68,500, thanks to $15,000 pledged from each the City of Perry and Perry Economic Development, and remaining funds from the Business Modernization & Protection Grant in 2021. Applications are expected to exceed available funding, but fundraising efforts will continue, allowing for additional granting capacity as available.

“This grant presents an opportunity for our community to build momentum towards fostering economicgrowth,” said Jeff Huitt, President of Perry Economic Development. “Perry is a small community with a strong history of resilience and innovation, and this initiative will empower entrepreneurs and small businesses in Perry to expand their operations, create jobs, and contribute to the overall economic vitality of our community.”

In addition to seeking other grant sources, the Perry Chamber Foundation is accepting donations for the Perry Business Support Fund — big and small — which may be directed to the Perry Chamber Foundation, online at GiveButter.com/Perry-Chamber-Foundation, or by mail through the end of January with Memo: Grant Donation to PO Box 472, Perry, IA 50220.

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“Ultimately, the overall scope and capacity of the grant program will be determined by the total fundraising efforts, but the overall success of the program will be determined by the individual businesses,” Pasutti added. “Minimally, we hope to provide short-term financial assistance to a dozen or so businesses, but with additional educational support and development resources, we hope that the overall investment is long lasting.”

Additional information and the application form for the Perry Business Support Grant is available atforms.gle/1TDbQZefxMCcWTtE6 or by contacting the Perry Chamber of Commerce at (515)465-4601 orLynsi@PerryIAChamber.org.

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