The Texarkana Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and several other local foundations and businesses, are providing $75,000 for a program to assist small businesses in the community. The COVID-19 Business Support Program will assist Chamber member businesses with less than 30 full time employees with grants equaling no more than $1,000.
The funding can be used for personal protection equipment, utility bills, such as gas, water/sewer, electricity, internet, and phone services and other significant business operating needs such as rent.
The program addresses safe workplace issues and the financial challenges brought on by the pandemic. Ritter Communications made a substantial contribution.
"We want to help small businesses get back on their feet and we believe our $25,000 contribution to the Chamber's relief program will allow the program to support more businesses as they reopen and find their way in this new business environment," said Ritter Communications CEO Alan Morse. "We're proud and excited about entering the Texarkana market."
Ritter provides fiber internet, voice, cloud, networking and television services.
These are "unprecedented times," says Joey Martin, owner of Express Employment Professionals and Chamber board chairman. "The Chamber board knows small business is the backbone of America, and our great Texarkana community. We want to help these partners of our community in any way possible."
Priority will be given to businesses that were closed, laid off employees, limited operations due to COVID-19 mitigation or can show other direct, negative impacts threatening the ability of the business to continue operations long-term, chamber officials say. To qualify for the support program, the business must have a Texarkana TX/AR region address.
All funding requests will be reviewed by a fund oversight committee consisting of representatives of business members of the Texarkana region. The committee will make a best faith effort to meet an applicant's request, but all distributions will be contingent upon the degree of financial need, the timeliness of application submission and the availability of funds, chamber officials say.
The application can be found online at texarkana.org/covid19-grant. Applications will be taken through June 15. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis until the funds are depleted. The maximum request for funding is limited to $1,000 for a 45-day period. After 45 days, an applicant may submit another request provided funding is still available.
The business will provide the necessary documentation in order for the Foundation to pay expenses directly to the vendor on behalf of the funding recipient.
The Texarkana USA COVID-19 Support Program fits well within the Chamber's mission 'To lead and advocate for sustainable economic growth and prosperity for our region,' said Tammy Waters, manager of communications and government relations at Domtar in Ashdown, Arkansas. "We are excited to have the opportunity to help our community."
The Texarkana USA Chamber of Commerce is a private trade association focusing on community and economic development for the greater Texarkana region. The Chamber has been a community partner for over 100 years in Bowie and Miller counties. Information on the Chamber and the program is available at 819 N. State Line Avenue, Texarkana, Texas or by phoning 903-792-7191 or at texarkana.org online.
(To donate to the fund, please contact Natalie Haywood by email at [email protected].)