Cobb County, through SelectCobb, awarded $7.5 million in relief grants to 409 small businesses in the county, according to a Friday press release from SelectCobb.

“On March 12th my personal chef business for 2020 was promising. On March 13th, two thirds of my business disappeared from my calendar. All of my culinary instruction classes and catering events began to be erased as clients were no longer entertaining and facilities began to close down,” said Chef Elizabeth Weaver, owner and chef for Elizabeth Edibles Personal Chef Services. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure I could qualify as a sole proprietor for this grant, but with great assistance from Select Cobb and research, I easily applied, and I will be able to regroup, market and keep cooking for Cobb County!”

According to the press release:

The grants, designed to help businesses mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19, ranged from $20,000 to $40,000. The funding was made possible through a portion of the County’s disbursement of The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, an economic stimulus bill passed by the U.S. Congress in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The local grants are designed to help area businesses pay for rent, utilities, personnel payments and personal protective equipment.

“We are incredibly thankful to Cobb County Government for their continued support of local small businesses, who have been working tirelessly to continue operations during COVID-19,” said Dana Johnson, COO of the Cobb Chamber and Executive Director of SelectCobb. “These grants speak to our collective commitment to providing residents with opportunities to grow and thrive while continuing to drive the County’s economic development and impact.”

The window to apply for a grant has been extended to August 21 at 5 p.m, and you can find the eligibility requirements and more information on applying for the grants at https://selectcobb.com/grants/

“These grants are essential in providing some measure of hope and relief to the business community,” said Mike Boyce, chairman of the Cobb County Commission. “We thank the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and members of the selection committee led by Steve Ewing for their hard work in evaluating the applications. They all truly reflect what is best about the Cobb community.”

About SelectCobb

According the SelectCobb promotional materials:

Devoted to fostering strong economic development in Cobb County, SelectCobb is a partnership led by the Cobb Chamber that works to attract top-tier enterprises and talent. With Cobb County’s impressive array of competitive advantages to support growth — a world-class workforce, a healthy business climate, and an enviable location — we’re excited to welcome even more of the world’s trailblazers and industry leaders. Learn more at www.selectcobb.com.