The BRACE grant is a matching, reimbursable grant of up to $2,500* (for new recipients) or $1,250* (for previous recipients) to help offset qualifying expenses incurred by City businesses. The business is required to provide a 30% match for the City’s contribution. For example, a business could receive a $2,500 grant to help offset the cost of new $3,250 piece of equipment purchased after May 1, 2022. The business must provide invoices and/or receipts to demonstrate their match commitment.
Eligible expenses include:
- Business Promotion - marketing, advertising, signs, etc.
- Business Model Modifications - improvements to your business model (website, point of sale system, inventory, equipment, etc.)
- Improvements to Real Property - modifications to your property (modification of customer seating/service area, façade updates, improvements to HVAC/air quality systems, etc.)
- Resiliency - responding to the COVID-19 pandemic (gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, etc.)
Ineligible expenses include:
- Reimbursement of fixed monthly costs (rent, utility bills, phone/internet bills, car payments, etc.);
- Reimbursement of taxes or business license fees;
- Expenses incurred prior to May 1, 2022;
- Where the business did not provide the required 30% matching commitment.
Requirements:
- Must be for-profit business or a non-profit organization that is focused on hospitality, tourism, or economic development/business causes.
- Franchise businesses that apply must be locally owned.
- Business' physical address must be located within the City of Charlottesville (PO Boxes are not acceptable).
- Current City business license and up-to-date on taxes (real estate, business tangible property tax, BPOL). Not applicable to all non-profit organizations.
- Business must have been open prior to March 1, 2022.
- Must become a registered vendor with the City of Charlottesville.
- Business owner must conduct a follow-up meeting with OED staff no later than 6 months after grant award date.
Previous BRACE grant recipients are encouraged to apply; however, priority will be given to applicants who have not received funding before. OED reserves the right to modify grant amounts based on number of applicaitons or other factors.
Applications will be accepted from August 15, 2022 at 9:00 AM until September 2, 2022 at 5:00 PM. Expenses incurred between May 1, 2022 and September 2, 2022 are eligible.