Microenterprise Stabilization Grants
The Microenterprise Stabilization (MicroE) Grant Program is a federally-funded COVID-19 relief mechanism that will provide up to 10 adversely-impacted microenterprises in Westerly with one-time, lump sum grants of up to $5,000. The funds will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis and may be used for a range of working capital expenses including lease, tax, and utility payments (current or past-due) as well as payroll, PPE, and more.
If you have any questions, reach out to one of the contacts cited at the bottom of the page. Our trained personnel in Development Services are available from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM every business day to help.
This program ended on May 1, 2021.
Step 1: Determining Eligibility and Understanding the Process
- Eligibility Criteria to Apply for MicroE Grants
- Information and Answers to Anticipated Questions
- Supplemental Answers to Questions Asked (Last updated June 26, 2020) @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
If you determine that your business qualifies, please skip ahead to "Step 2: Preparing an Application". If you determine that your business doesn’t qualify, please see directly below. And if you’re not able to make a determination either way, send an email to one of the contacts listed at the bottom of the page for help.
What if my business doesn't qualify?
- Visit the Town's Small Business and Nonprofit Resources page. Here, you can find a list of funding opportunities (both governmental and private) as well as other available COVID-19 relief efforts. The page is reviewed regularly to ensure information is kept up-to-date.
- Tell us what requirement(s) makes your business ineligible. Within the first few weeks of this program's beginning, the Town of Westerly has already been successful in advocating for major relaxations in the program's initial criteria: single-employee businesses, businesses that were approved for EIDL and/or PPP funding through the SBA, and businesses that opened in 2019 are now all eligible as of June 23, 2020. We understand that this grant opportunity is still not available to all businesses, though. We're here to continue supporting you. Please consider completing this quick two minute, three question survey to let us know what's preventing you from applying. Information collected from the survey will be reported only in aggregate and will be used to help us achieve further changes that will make MicroE Grants more accessible to you and other local small businesses like yours. @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Step 2: Preparing an Application
- Application Form (7 pages)
- Application Checklist (1 page)
- Conflict of Interest Disclosure (2 pages)
- Certification Form (2 pages)
- Consent and Release Form (2 pages)
- Family Income Self-Certification Form (2 pages)
- Form W-9* (6 pages) @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
*Note: A Form W-9 must be completed by businesses for the Town to issue a Form 1099 for your 2020 tax filings (grants will be considered income by the federal and state governments).
Step 3: Scheduling and Receiving a Phone Screening
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Step 4: Submitting Your Application for Third-Party Review
- Scanner or photocopier
- Secure email (remember - the application you send will contain personal/private financial information) @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Step 5: Getting Approved and Receiving Your Award
- Quarterly Update Report @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
Contact us
- Alyse Oziolor, Principal Planner - aoziolor@westerlyri.gov
- Lisa Pellegrini, Director of Development Services - lpellegrini@westerlyri.gov @(Model.BulletStyle == CivicPlus.Entities.Modules.Layout.Enums.BulletStyle.Decimal ? "ol" : "ul")>
This webpage was last updated on May 26, 2021.