Greater Franklin Chamber of Commerce stakeholders stand with a big check for the collective amount of the Capacity Building grants outside the chamber’s Franklin office in 2023.
Photo providedThe Greater Franklin Chamber of Commerce is seeking applicants for the second round of its small business capacity-building grant program.
The grants are a project of the Franklin Chamber Foundation, which plans to award 12 $2,500 grants to local small businesses. Funding for the program was provided by the Franklin Economic Development Commission using money that was collected from the city’s economic development fees, which are paid by companies with tax abatements.
Franklin-area businesses with 10 or fewer full-time employees are encouraged to submit applications for the grants which may be used for initiatives such as expanding a physical space, online presence or marketing initiatives. Examples of capacity building are: user-friendly online shopping platforms, enhanced point of sale systems, updated websites, increased physical spaces and innovative marketing strategies.
“Small businesses are essential to the economic and social growth of a community. In Franklin, small business owners are friends and neighbors who are the foundation of our city,” , Rosie Chambers, the chamber’s president and CEO, said in a statement on the grant cycle. “We are delighted to assist in strengthening these businesses that are so important to the fabric of our community and we are grateful for the funding of this program from the Franklin Economic Development Commission.”
Grant applications opened Tuesday and will remain open through August 2.
Applications will be evaluated by the Franklin Chamber Foundation Board of Directors and representatives from the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, Discover Downtown Franklin and the Franklin Economic Development Commission. Applications will be scored on longevity, impact, sustainability, community involvement, community support, innovation and completeness of the application.
The application can be found on the chamber’s website at franklincoc.org/capacity-building-grant-program-continued.
Questions regarding the grants can be directed to [email protected] or 317-736-6334.
