The CEG LAUNCH FUND, provides micro grants from $500 to $1,000 to low income Small Minority-Owned businesses in Hamilton County, Ohio.
Grant awards can be used for the following…
- Employee Compensation (including wages and benefits)
- Working Capital
- Equipment Inventory: upgrades to business communications, such as computer hardware, business software and telecommunication equipment in order to have a responsive and effective web and social media presence
- Rent Payment
- Other business-critical operating expenses
The Launch Grant Advisory Board will have 2 weeks to use a scoring system to review and score the candidates who will be chosen to participate in an In-Person Pitch night. A final selection of 15-20 grant awardees, or less, will be notified via email.
ELIGIBILTY REQUIREMENTS
- Small Minority Owned Business : Must have no more than $500,000 in annual gross revenues
- Your principal office is located in the Hamilton County area (We strongly encourage disadvantaged Small Businesses in Downtown and Over the Rhine areas to apply, however other economically disadvantaged businesses who may be outside of low to moderate income areas can also apply)
- Must be a for-profit business entity
- 100% of the Business is owned by Hamilton County Residents
- More than 50% of the Business Employees are Hamilton County Residents
- The Recipient will make a statement to CEG about how the funding helped their business.
- Must complete and submit a CEG Launch Application, Biography, and a prior year Profit & Loss Statement
CEG LAUNCH APPLICATION – The deadline for the 2023 application is November 30, 2023 at 5PM.
