ARPA Small Business Grants

Small Business Recovery Grants

In accordance with the Scranton ARPA mission, the city is seeking applications for Small Business grant funding. Awards are available to businesses that have not received pandemic-related funding from other sources and were in business prior to March 3, 2020.

Funding may be applied for and used to support eligible small businesses impacted by the pandemic to mitigate financial hardships including, but not limited to:

1. decreased revenue or gross receipts
2. increased costs
3. financial insecurity
4. capacity to withstand future financial hardship
5. challenges covering other costs
6. ability to retain employees
7. mortgage, rent or utilities, and other operating costs
8. mitigation for social distancing, cleaning, barriers, and other health and safety investment/upgrades

Funding for financial hardship will only be made available up to a percentage of the business’ previous fiscal year’s revenue to be determined. In addition, funding can be used for business development (e.g., e-commerce sites, marketing, new lines, or new buildouts).

Funding applications may also be submitted for eligible capital expenditures. To be eligible, capital expenditures must be detailed in the application and must directly respond to the pandemic, and be proportional to the demonstrated impact.  They must also serve or provide benefits to City residents.

Wage Boost Grants

In accordance with the Scranton ARPA mission, the city is seeking applications for Small Business Wage Supplement (employee retention) grant funding.

Awards are available to businesses to help increase their workforce through subsidizing higher wages.

Wage Boost Grant Details

• Intended Applicants: Eligible small businesses
• Subrecipient Program Administrator: Scranton Area Community Foundation (SACF)
• Amount of Funding Available: $3,000,000 total, shared with small business grants depending on the number of applications received
• Types of Awards: Beneficiary Awards
• Award Amounts Available: Up to $50,000 for up to two (2) years or to an amount of need that may be clearly demonstrated by applicants.
• The final round of applications will close on September 30, 2023

Small Businesses Grants and Wage Supplement Grants Eligibility Requirements

1. Business is a “for-profit” business
2. Business is not a publicly traded company
3. Business will be physically located within the City of Scranton
4. Business has experienced a business interruption(s) or closure(s) due to COVID-19; or COVID-19 has created an economic impact that makes this grant request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the business
5. Business is licensed to do business, in the state of Pennsylvania
6. Business had 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees prior to March 3, 2021.
7. Business was in operation on March 3, 2021, and if required paid income taxes to the state and federal government, as reported on individual or business tax returns
8. The grant will be used to cover COVID-19-related costs and/or impacts
9. No business owners, including all managing members and/or officers, have been convicted of financial crimes within the past three years.

Business Start-Up or Expansion Funding

In accordance with the Scranton ARPA mission, the city is seeking applications for Business Start Up or Expansion funding. Awards are available to assist businesses and entrepreneurs in developing startups or an expansion of a business in the city. Businesses had to open after March 3, 2021.

Costs may include operations, mitigation for social distancing, cleaning, barriers, and other health and safety investments/upgrades. In addition, funding can be used for business development (e.g., websites, technology, marketing, new lines of business, or new buildouts.)

Business Start-Up or Expansion Funding Details

• Intended Applicants: Eligible small businesses
• Amount of Funding Available: $1,250,000
• Types of Awards: Beneficiary Awards
• Award Amounts Available: Awards are available up to 25% of the total startup or expansion costs with a $100,000 maximum.
• Applications close on October 31, 2023
• Franchises are not eligible.

Is Your Business Located in the Qualified Census Tract (QCT)?

Small Business Start-Up or Expansion Funding Eligibility Requirements

• Business is a “for-profit” business
• Business is not a publicly traded company
• Business will be physically located within the City of Scranton
• Business has experienced a business interruption(s) or closure(s) due to COVID-19; or COVID-19 has created an economic impact that makes this grant request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the business
• Business is licensed to do business, in the state of Pennsylvania
• Business had 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees prior to March 3, 2021.
• Business was in operation on March 3, 2021, and if required paid income taxes to the state and federal government, as reported on individual or business tax returns
• The grant will be used to cover COVID-19-related costs and/or impacts
• No business owners, including all managing members and/or officers, have been convicted of financial crimes within the past three years.

Business Facade Improvements

In accordance with the Scranton ARPA mission, the city is seeking applications for Façade Improvement funding for disproportionately impacted small businesses. The city will partner with local non-profits; Scranton Tomorrow, NeighborWorks, and United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA to administer this program.

Funding may be applied for and used to improve storefronts and facades including major maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, preservation, and restoration activities per the outlined eligible uses below. The City’s ARPA mission is to provide an incentive for private investment in exterior property improvements to small business commercial buildings located within the city limits.

Business Facade Improvement Details

• Intended Applicants: Eligible small businesses
• Amount of Funding Available: $500,000
• Types of Awards: Beneficiary Awards
• Award Amounts Available: Awards are available for up to $10,000 with a 25% match required by applicants. If multiple small businesses share the same facade, they can submit a joint application for up to $20,000 with the same 25% match.
• Applications close on September 20, 2023

Applications will initially be received by partner organizations based on the area in which a business is located:

• West Scranton and North Scranton | Contact Neighborworks to Apply
• Downtown Scranton and Hill Section | Contact Scranton Tomorrow to Apply
• South Scranton, Pinebrook, and Minooka | Contact UNC to Apply

Unsure of What Organization to Apply Through? View our Interactive Map Below