(STATEHOUSE) – State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford) said the city of Bedford recently received a grant for $241,873 from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to help small businesses.
Bedford can use these funds to provide $10,000 grants to small businesses, including those in retail and commercial, that have been affected by the pandemic.
“Many business owners have had to deal with unprecedented challenges during this public health emergency,” May said. “In order for our economy to fully bounce back as quickly as possible, our small-business owners need support to help keep their doors open and their workers employed.”
According to May, 42 rural communities were recipients of the second round of funding, which was distributed through OCRA’s COVID-19 Response Program. He said more than $20 million to date has been awarded to counties, cities and towns to help cover payroll and operational costs for local businesses impacted by COVID-19.
Funding for Indiana’s COVID-19 Response Program comes from the federal CARES Act passed at the outset of the pandemic.
More information on the COVID-19 Response Program is available at in.gov/ocra.
