Small Business Booster Program Application

Through a $50,000 Duke Energy Foundation Grant awarded to the Montcross Area Chamber's Tomorrow Foundation, the Chamber has created our Small Business Booster Program. This program will help Gaston County small businesses to grow and prosper through the awarding of microgrants, from $1,000 to $5,000.

All fields marked with an * are REQUIRED.

We suggest you print out a copy of this application, BEFORE filling it out, as there is no capability to save it and come back to it at another time, to finish completing it.

Applications will be accepted up to 5pm on Friday, October 11th.

Winners will be notified directly and microgrants awarded by November 1st, 2024.

NOTE: Should you have any issues when filling out or submitting this application, please email your questions to: sbb-program@montcrossareachamber.com

Please review our Small Business Booster Program Application Requirements below and check ALL boxes acknowleding you meet all the requirements. *

I have a small buinsess or nonprofit organization, based in Gaston County, N.C. My business has been open for at least one year. I have 50 or fewer employees, where 1 full-time employee is equivalent to 2 part-time employees. I am NOT applying for a church or municipality.

NOTE: Microgrants may NOT be used for mortgage payments, rent, payroll, utility bills, debts, taxes, fines, travel, transportation, lodging, entertainment, meals or drinks, etc.

Business Name: *

Please enter the legal name of your business or organization. If you have a "Doing Business As" (dba), please indicate it as follows. (EXAMPLE: Business Legal Name, dba Public Business Name).

Business Website Address (OPTIONAL):

Applicant's Name:

Please enter the name of the business owner, or in the case of a nonprofit, the Executive Director/President.

Title

First Name *

Last Name *

Suffix

Applicant's Work Phone: *

Please enter your work phone number, in this format (704-123-4567). NOTE: If your work phone AND cell phone number are the same, please enter it in both the work & cell phone fields

Applicant's Cell Phone: *

Please enter your work phone number, in this format (704-123-4567).

Applicant's Email Address: *

Please enter your email address, in this format (yourname@yourbusinessname.com)

Company Physical Address:

Please enter the physical address of your business or organization.

Address Line 1 *

Address Line 2

City *

Zip/Postal Code *

Company Mailing Address, if different from physical address:

Please enter your mailing address, if different from your physical address.

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

Zip/Postal Code

How long have you been in business? *

1-5 years 6-10 years 11 or more years

Total number of full-time & part-time employees? *

1-5 employees 6-10 employees 11-20 employees 21-30 employees 31-50 employees

1 Full-time employee = 2 Part-time employees. NOTE: The Small Business Booster Program is for businesses with less than 50 employees.

What is the dollar amount of the microgrant for which you are applying ($1,000 - $5,000)? *

How will you use this microgrant in your business or organization (200 words or less)? *

How will this microgrant help your business or organization grow & prosper (200 words or less)? *

OPTIONAL: Please upload a copy of any quotes (i.e., PDF) you have for the products or services you will pay for using your microgrant, if awarded.

OPTIONAL: Use your smartphone to shoot a simple, 30-second video describing why you should be awarded a Small Business Booster Program microgrant.

You may upload your video below or provide us a website link where the video can be streamed.

Upload your 30-second video, in MP4 format.

If you are unable to upload your video, please provide us a website link where it can be streamed.

For example, a link to your video hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, etc.

Please sign this form by entering your first and last name and today's date *

By checking the boxes below & submitting this application to the Montcross Area Chamber's Small Business Booster Program, I understand and acknowledge the following requirements & limitations of the program. *

If awarded a microgrant, it may NOT be used to pay for mortgage payments, rent, payroll, utility bills, debts, taxes, fines, travel, transportation, lodging, entertainment, meals or drinks, etc. If awarded a microgrant, I agree to provide copies of ALL invoices, BEFORE receiving my microgrant check. If awarded a microgrant, I agree to participate in promotional activities (press releases, newsletters, website content, videos, social media and/or awards ceremony.)

Please read and check ALL the above boxes, BEFORE submitting your application. Thank you.

OPTIONAL: Please email me information about becoming a member of the Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce and have someone contact me about joining.

YES NO

NOTE: Your interest, or lack there of, in becoming a member of the Montcross Area Chamber, will in no way impact your chances of winning a Small Business Booster Program microgrant.