To the Editor:

Thank you to the Enterprise for its front-page story last week on new Albany County grants for small businesses struggling with COVID-related hardships [“Albany County to small businesses: ‘Help is on the way,’” Dec. 31, 2020].

Businesses must act quickly to take advantage of this half-million-dollar program. There is only a two-week application period, from Jan. 4 to Jan. 19.

One of my top priorities is to ensure Guilderland gets its fair share of these grants, which may be as much as $5,000 per business. I am hoping many Guilderland businesses will apply. Fortunately, the county grant application is much easier than the federal process.

Expenses that could be reimbursed include two months of back rent; purchase of up to two weeks of perishable goods; and expenses related to retrofitting the business for COVID-19 such as personal protective equipment, contactless purchasing, or online ordering services.

To be eligible, applicants must generate sales tax with a for-profit business, have no more than 50 employees, show its revenue has dropped by at least 25 percent due to COVID-19, show how current COVID economic conditions make the grant request necessary to support the ongoing operations of business, and be located within Albany County.

The Community Loan Fund is processing the applications and the county’s Economic Development Director will have the final say. Find the application at: www.mycommunityloanfund.org.  Application questions may be directed to Rose Bordett at: or by calling 518-436-8586.

Do not hesitate to contact me with any additional questions: 518-650-5096 or at: . Good luck! I know many small businesses could use some right now.

Mark Grimm

Albany County Legislator

Guilderland