Small businesses in D.C. and Loudoun County, Virginia, that the coronavirus pandemic has affected could be eligible for a Facebook grant.
The social media company is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits to up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in more than 30 countries where Facebook operates. Two such locations are in D.C. and Ashburn, Virginia.
“We’ve heard that a little financial support can go a long way,” the company said in a statement.
The money may be used for rent or operational costs or to connect with customers.
To be eligible, the company has to:
- Be a for-profit company
- Have between two and 50 employees
- Have been in business for over a year
- Have experienced challenges from COVID-19
- Be in or near a location where Facebook operates
Facebook is partnering with Ureeka — a small business peer mentoring community — in the application process. Businesses can sign up starting on April 29.
More than 25 small businesses in the region will be awarded $100,000, and half the grants will be prioritized for minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses, Facebook Global Chief of Diversity Maxine Williams told the The Loudoun-Times Mirror.
Facebook’s Loudoun County office holds legal, finance, facilities, administrative and infrastructure functions.
The D.C. office handles communication, public policy and software engineering, among others.
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WTOP’s Dimitri Sotis contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the date when businesses can sign up.
