About the Process

To be eligible for the grant, the answers to the following questions must be “yes”. As part of the application, you will be asked to submit documentation as proof of your eligibility:

• Have you been in business for at least one year (as of the date of your application submission) with a record of sales? If a startup, please indicate on application
• Is your business in good standing with the CT Department of Revenue Services?
• Is your business registered in CT?
• Does your business utilize formal digital bookkeeping/financial (e.g., QuickBooks, Sage, FreshBooks, Wave Accounting)? Do you have an established business checking account?
• Is the business a for profit business?
• Is the business owned by a person at least 18 years old?

Applying for the grant

There are THREE steps to applying for the Grant, and it may take up to four weeks for the decision to be made - subject to all required information having been received.

STEP 1 - Upload this COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM & Required documents

STEP 2 - Application Review

STEP 3 – Decision

Email all questions to bbagrant@bbusinessalliance.org

To submit your application, please upload all required documents.

1. Business Description:
   1. In the first sentence, please describe your business. Then elaborate to include the year founded, the product or service that you deliver and the problem you solve for your customers, or unmet needs you satisfy.

2. Business Performance

1. Describe how your business is doing today. Explain the recent decline or growth of your business and how your business has performed COVID-19.

3. Use of Funds

1. Describe what you will spend the grant funds on. Be specific about what goods or services you will purchase with the grant. Below, you will upload backup evidence for how you will use the grant (e.g., proposal, estimate, screenshots of proposed purchases, or other evidence to support the amount you are asking for). If the investment you want to make is more than the amount of the grant, also explain how you will fund the remaining portion.

*Please note that grant funds cannot be used towards reimbursement for past purchases or debt repayment.

4. Customers

1. Describe your current customers. Include who they are, how they find you, and why they buy your product or service. Explain who the customers are that you want to attract in the future to grow your business, and how they are different or the same from your current customers.

*Please note that grant funds cannot be used towards reimbursement for past purchases or debt repayment.

5. Competitors

1. Describe your competitors. Name three. Describe how their product or service is different from yours. Describe how you think your product or service better meets customer needs than your competitors.

6. Marketing

1. Explain how you market your products or services, and how you pitch them to customers. Describe the channels you use to sell to your customers (e.g., website, retail, wholesale). Explain your branding.

   Describe the channels you use to communicate with your customers (e.g., email, website, advertising, social media, physical advertising) and which you find most effective for which groups of customers.

7. Pricing

1. Explain how you price your products and why you charge different amounts for different products or services, and different customer groups. Describe how your pricing compares to competitors. Explain why you have selected these prices and what your profit margins are for different products or services.

8. Location

1. Describe your physical location(s) and how your space meets your current and future needs.

9. Growth Plans

1. Describe the future plans for the next 5 years and how you’re going to make them happen.
2. Please add the inclusion of at least 3 years of financial projections.
3. Please save and complete the P & L statement linked here

10. Owners & Team

1. Describe your background, how you got into the business, your relevant experience, and the number of employees you have. Describe who is on your team and how their experience and expertise support your company and its growth.

You must also upload the following:

1. DRS Letter of Good Standing

2. SOS Certificate of Existence
3. DOL Letter of Good Standing (optional if no employees / required if you have employees)
4. 2021, 2022 and 2023 tax returns (Schedule C for LLC)

Note:

All of your documentation should be uploaded to your application here.

Kindly ensure your signature is affixed below; failure to do so will necessitate the submission of a new application.