City of Columbia’s Small Business Stabilization Grant Program
Columbia City Council has approved the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to aid small businesses in recovering from COVID-19. With these funds, the Office of Business Opportunities has launched the Small Business Stabilization Grant (SBSG) program to provide short-term relief to businesses within the corporate limits of Columbia that have seen a reduction in revenue due to COVID-19 and are in the process of recovery.
The City of Columbia and the Office of Business Opportunities will issue SBSG grants of up to $15,000 will be made in an effort to mitigate losses experienced by our small business community. To be eligible for the grant, applicants must demonstrate revenue losses of 25% or more due to the COVID-19 pandemic, from 2019 to 2021.
Eligible businesses may include a wide range of service providers, such as hairdressers, barbershops, small retail enterprises, etc.
Applications will be accepted by qualified for-profit, privately held small businesses that have been in business as of December 1, 2019 (or earlier) and located within the corporate limits of the City of Columbia. Qualified applicants must illustrate the economic injury suffered as a result of COVID-19.
To find out if your business is located within the corporate limits of the City of Columbia, go to the City of Columbia’s GIS viewer webpage.
To be eligible for assistance, the business (business owner(s)) must:
- Employ(s) less than twenty-five (25) employees, including the owner(s). Priority will be given to microenterprises that have five (5) or fewer employees, including the owner(s);
- Has an owner who is low-moderate income (LMI), resides within the corporate limits of the City of Columbia, and the business qualifies as a microenterprise (less than five employees); or
- Employs or retains employees where 51% of the total employees are low-income (LMI).
For additional eligibility requirements, please review the Small Business Stabilization Grant (SBSG) Program Guidelines.
Small Business Stabilization Grant Documents
SBSG Program Guidelines
SBSG Prequalification Application
SBSG Application
Employee Listing
CDBG Income Verification Form
Applicants must submit their completed application and required documents to stabilizationgrant@columbiasc.gov or mail it to:
Office of Business Opportunities
City of Columbia
1401 Main Street, 4th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
If you have any questions on the Small Business Stabilization Grant or need assistance in completing your application, please contact the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities at (803)545-3950 or send an email to stabilizationgrant@columbiasc.gov.