48 Wabash Businesses Awarded OCRA Grant Funding
News Release
WABASH – Forty-eight businesses located in the City of Wabash will receive grant funding totaling $250,000 through a grant program offered by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) awarded to the City of Wabash and administered by Grow Wabash County.
The grants are funded by OCRA through its COVID-19 Response program, which is focused on providing funding to businesses to help them retain low- to middle-income (LMI) workers and minimize lay-offs caused by low revenue during COVID-19 restrictions.
The funds, awarded in grants ranging from $2,000 to $15,000, may be used by the businesses for certain expenses incurred during the pandemic, such as working capital, expenses incurred by continuing operations, and/or expenses incurred by transitioning the workforce to working remotely.
“We are thrilled to partner once again with the City of Wabash and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to award these businesses COVID-19 relief grants to support their businesses during these tough times,” said Keith Gillenwater, President & CEO of Grow Wabash County. “In just the last few months, Grow Wabash County has helped to facilitate in excess of $650,000 in new grants and revolving loans to businesses throughout our county. We take seriously our role of being a convener, advocate, cheerleader, and champion for Wabash County businesses.”
Grant recipients in the City of Wabash include businesses of all sizes and from various sectors that were hit hard during the pandemic.
“I am ecstatic that the city of Wabash, in partnership with Grow Wabash County, is able to assist 48 local businesses with funding from this Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).
COVID-19 relief program,” Mayor Scott Long said. “Our organizations have worked diligently to ensure that our local small business community not only survives but thrives as this crisis hopefully is nearing its end. Local small business is the backbone of Wabash and it is what sets the community apart from surrounding cities. Our continued working relationship with OCRA and the many other State agencies is strong and getting stronger every day.”
A countywide collaboration is currently in the process of applying for grant funding from Phase II of OCRA’s COVID-19 Response program focused on long-term recovery. More details to follow about this second round of grant funding.
Grow Wabash County is a not-for-profit corporation that spearheads economic and community development efforts in Wabash County, Indiana. GWC is designed around five pillars of service – assisting business development needs, promoting livability, fostering entrepreneurship, supporting workforce development, and offering programming and investor services. For more information about GWC, please visit www.growwabashcounty.com or call us at 260.563.5258
The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs’ mission is to work with local, state and national partners to provide resources and technical assistance to assist communities in shaping and achieving their vision for community and economic development.