Velocity Lee’s Summit, Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council and Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street are working in tandem to provide financial aid to area businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The organizations recently received a collective $225,000 from the City of Lee’s Summit to distribute as small business grants in an effort to offset economic interruption. Selected applicants will each receive up to $5,000 in relief.

The program, called Cares Cash: Small Business Grants for Covid-19 Relief, will begin accepting applications on September 28. Eligible businesses must have a valid Lee’s Summit business license, less than 500 employees and be physically located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Businesses that did not earn revenue or have a valid business license prior to March 1, 2020, will not be eligible. The parameters of the grant also exclude nonprofit entities and any organization or business with a representative participating in the review and selection process of grant applications.

Tim Denker, Velocity Lee’s Summit President and Chair of the Board noted, “This is an exciting opportunity for Lee’s Summit to offset some of the damage COVID-19 has done to our area small businesses. Those with store fronts have taken on expense and suffered considerable losses to meet the county’s social distancing protocols. The Lee’s Summit business support community continues to help everywhere we can.”

Grants will be provided on a first come, first served basis. A priority will be given to businesses with a brick and mortar presence in Lee’s Summit, an annual revenue of less than $1 million, a staff of less than 50 and businesses that did not receive federal COVID-19 relief funding.

All grant applications must be filed with the appropriate and required documentation for consideration. Eligible businesses may apply at www.velocityls.org/2020-grant. The application deadline is Monday, October 5.