The state announced a grant program to help small businesses that weren’t able to secure funding from the federal Paycheck Protection Program.

The Small Business Restart Fund is supported by $30 million of federal CARES Act funding sent to Indiana.

Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger says small businesses with fewer than 50 people, that generate less than $5 million in revenue, are eligible for grants depending on how much revenue has been lost due to COVID-19.

"Of the $30 million that’s allocated for this back start-up fund, $5 million of it will be dedicated and reserved for certified minority businesses and women-owned businesses," he says.

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The money is for qualified expenses, including rent or mortgage payments, utilities, lease payments for real or personal property, and safety investments, like personal protective equipment and infrastructure improvements. Businesses can receive up to $10,000.

Schellinger says though, business owners who have not applied for the federal Paycheck Protection Program should go there first.

"We want to maximize those so that we can maximize the start-up program for small businesses, to those that are not eligible," he says.

Schellinger says more than 20 percent of Indiana’s 700,000 small businesses qualify for these grants.

Applications for the grant open up Wednesday, June 3, and will remain open until the funding runs out or until Sept. 30. Businesses that received funding from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan or Community Development Block Grant – OCRA programs are not eligible for this grant fund.

Contact Lauren at lchapman@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @laurenechapman_.