INDIANAPOLIS – Today, the City of Indianapolis and the Indy Chamber announced a deadline extension for the Ready to Restart Program, a grant program that helps Marion County businesses re-open safely. Small businesses can apply for up to $5,000 in reimbursement for PPE, sanitizing stations, and other COVID-related reopening costs.
The decision to extend the program beyond the original July 31st deadline was made due to delays in re-opening Marion County. On Thursday, July 23, Mayor Joe Hogsett announced new restrictions, including another closing of bars, taverns and nightclubs, to curb a sharp increase in coronavirus cases.
Applications for Ready to Restart will remain open until August 28, giving time for business owners to purchase their health and safety-related supplies and prepare their applications.
Since Ready to Restart’s launch in early June, the program has approved over $1 Million through 289 grants to Marion County small business owners.
Any Indianapolis business meeting the following criteria can apply for ‘Ready to Restart’ support:
- Must be a private, for-profit business with 150 employees or fewer
- Must be located and registered in Marion County
- Must have a business start date prior to 2/15/2020
- Must have purchased PPE, modified supplies (like washable menus), professional cleaning and disinfection services, and/or capital improvements as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and to comply with the State of Indiana and Marion County Public Health Department reopening guidelines between 5/1/2020 – 8/28/2020.
Small business owners need to keep their receipts to be reimbursed by Ready to Restart Grants. A business can only apply once, with grants awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Plenty of resources remain for companies to apply before the program concludes on August 28. Businesses can apply at response.indychamber.com/restart.
