NC businesses can still get COVID-19 recovery grants, but the deadline is days away

Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan
·3 min read

Businesses have just days left to apply for $500 million in North Carolina pandemic recovery grants through a state program.

About 4,300 businesses have applied so far for the grants — which may be up to $500,000 each — with the Jan. 31 application deadline quickly approaching.

Calvin Patterson, president of Black Chamber of Commerce of Winston-Salem, said the coronavirus pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black-owned businesses. He joined Gov. Roy Cooper, Department of Revenue Secretary Ronald Penny and other business leaders urging businesses to apply for the funds before Monday.

“We’re seeing impact, but we’re seeing hope as well, and this business recovery grant is a big part of that,” Patterson told The News & Observer in an interview after the news conference in downtown Raleigh Thursday.

The Business Recovery Program, part of the state budget the legislature passed and Cooper signed into law in November, started in mid-December. The program was part of budget proposals from both Cooper and the state Senate. Businesses apply online through the Department of Revenue website.

Patterson said Winston-Salem’s Black Chamber has been getting the word out about the program, and the biggest challenge now is making sure businesses are prepared to fill out the applications.

Penny said that anyone who has questions while submitting their applications may call 877-252-4487 for help.

“Many of our businesses have suffered and are struggling,” Penny said. He said they want to make sure applications reflect the diversity of the state, including both rural and urban communities.

Eligible businesses which have suffered a 20% loss, as measured on their tax forms, may be able to receive some of the grant money. There are two types of grants — a hospitality grant and a reimbursement grant. Grants are one-time money. There are multiple criteria for eligibility. Visit www.ncdor.gov for detailed information about what businesses are eligible and how to apply.

Because the deadline is Monday, Jan. 31, for the Department of Revenue to receive applications, Penny urged businesses to submit online, where they will also get an email confirmation and calculation of their economic loss.

Restaurants, bars and hotels could benefit

Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce President Calvin Patterson, center, talks about the Business Recovery Grant Program at a press conference Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022 at the Department of Administration building in downtown Raleigh. On the left is Department of Revenue Secretary Ronald Penny; on the left is North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association President and CEO Lynn Minges.

Lynn Minges, president and CEO of the Restaurant and Lodging Association, said the grants are especially important to the hospitality industry. Retail businesses were under varied levels of coronavirus restrictions in 2020 and early 2021, especially restaurants and bars. The last of the statewide restrictions ended in summer 2021.

The grants will be “a lifesaver,” she said, noting the losses restaurants, bars and hotels suffered during the pandemic. Minges said businesses could have checks within weeks.

No money has gone out yet, but should soon after the application window closes, leaders said.

Patterson, the chamber leader, said that businesses are hopeful as 2022 gets underway.

“For those who could pivot, for those who, even if they were mom-and-pop operations, those who were comfortable with learning the new technology, be it Zoom, GoToMeeting or whatever, they survived and they are actually beginning to thrive,” he told The N&O.

The latest variant of COVID-19, omicron, has caused significant increases in cases since the holidays, but shows signs of leveling off. Vaccinations are free and available across the state to all North Carolinians ages 5 and older. Vaccine boosters are also available to everyone age 12 and older.