Apply: American Express and Main Street America Grant Program for Service-Based Businesses

[Tom]

Hello service-based small business owners!

I'm reaching out to let you know about a grant opportunity available with American Express and Main Street America.

Our local salons, barber shops, and spas have always been there to help us put our best foot forward. But the pandemic has been costly to them because of their reliance on in-person customers.

In an effort to support these businesses and other service-based small businesses, American Express and Main Street America have launched the ‘Services that Back Us’ grant program, which will reward 75 U.S. personal service industry small businesses with $5,000. Funds can be used towards critical business needs, such as physical and digital improvements, new equipment, technology, and training to help support their financial recovery and growth.

Applications are now open, and small business owners who own personal service businesses can learn more and apply for the grants by clicking the blue button below:

LEARN MORE AND APPLY NOW

    

[Twiggy]

IS this coming to the UK?

[Tom]

Hi @Twiggy, thanks for bringing this up. I checked in with our contacts for this grant and there isn't a specific timeline available for folks outside of the US at this point. We will certainly share more information if that changes in the future. Appreciate your patience on this and don't hesitate to let us know if anything else comes up!

Sharing some additional details in case any other sellers have a similar question — businesses must meet the following criteria to apply:

• The business must be a business entity in good standing in the state in which it was formed and the state in which it does business.
• The applicant’s business has a “brick-and-mortar” location and operates in an older or historic main street, downtown or commercial district in the United States—businesses in strip malls, residences, and shopping malls are not eligible for this grant program.
• The applicant’s business employs 20 or fewer full-time employees, including the owner.
• The applicant’s business has been in operation since January 1, 2020.

[Anthem · Accepted solution]

Thanks for sharing! Cool opportunity we probably wouldn't have know about if you'd hadn't have shared.

For others interested...the list of service businesses from their site.

Aromatherapy services             • Barber shops           • Beauty & day spas             • Beauty shops         • Cobbler  • Cosmetologists             • Cosmetology & personal hygiene  • Dressmaker/seamstress

• Dry cleaner            • Facial cosmetology             • Hair salons, stylists, and hairdressers                         • Nail salons, manicure/pedicure services • Massage parlor & steam bath services             • Massage therapy             • Tanning salon  • Tailor

[Tom]

Glad to hear it @Anthem and thanks for surfacing the list here! 🙏🏻

[BillJohnsonMini]

I'm not good at using square

[Stacelyn24]

You’re in the right place to get help.  There are so many people here in the community that can’t help you with general information as well as specific product/service questions.  Just ask away...or start a thread and I’m sure you’ll receive the help you need!

I’ll go first...what do you need help with in getting started with square?

🙂

[Anthem]

Yes! way to jump in there @Stacelyn24! 

Couldn't agree more! @BillJohnsonMini there are so many great business leaders on these boards that go beyond investing in their own businesses by investing in others working to improve what they do. Start with entering questions in the search, read through the responses, you'll avoid a lot of little mistakes, and look for the *best answers. These folks usually did a great job of unwrapping a topic and delivering it in easy-to-understand ways. Anytime you find an answer that fits your needs be sure and designate it as a Best Answer - it helps everyone!

Fire away, let us come alongside and help you out!

[Stacelyn24]

Well golly thanks American Express.  We definitely have felt the burden of Covid-19.  I own a nail studio and when the pandemic hit we were forced to shut down for 3 months...but business expenses kept running along lol.  After reopening we had a shortage of clients who came back (after 2 years we still haven’t seen some of our clients who were coming for years), clients catching Covid and having to cancel appointments (a lot of cancellations), and now...new variants make clients hesitant to rebook.  

Basically, I appreciate this gesture and will definitely be applying for the grant 🙂