Welcome to the application portal for the Cherokee Small Business Grant! Please read the information below to assist you (read, not skim). Yes, it's a lot of words - but you can do it!

How long will it take to complete the application?

• 45 minutes, on average, if all your information is gathered and organized. Having your DIGITAL FILES available will speed the process.

Short on time?

• You can save your application at any point and come back later.

Once finished, what happens next?

• You will receive a confirmation email from us. We will review your application upon submission and keep you informed of your status throughout the process. Our office will be reviewing applications as quickly as possible.

If this is your first time on the grant site, please review the instructions below and use the link at the bottom of the page to CREATE AN ACCOUNT (This option will be visible when the portal opens April 17). After creating your account, you will have access to the grant application.

If you have previously completed an application on this portal you may use your existing login credentials. Your previous applications are available to view under the Archived option on the left. 

Prior to applying, please review the information below to ensure your application is complete. Incomplete submissions cannot be accepted.
Please have DIGITAL COPIES of the following documents ready for submission.

What documents might I need? Specifics will be based on how you are applying, but may include:

• Current Business License from Cherokee County or its municipalities [ALL APPLICANTS]
• Business owner's non-expired government issued picture ID [ALL APPLICANTS]
• 2nd, 3rd and 4th Quarter 2022 , GA 941 Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return (if you have employees) [ALL APPLICANTS]
• Annual Registration from Georgia Secretary of State’s office (with the exception of sole proprietors) [ALL APPLICANTS]
• 2019, 2020 and 2021 Business Tax Returns (Entire document); If you are a Sole Proprietor, provide Personal Tax Returns for 2019, 2020 and 2021 [Required if located in QCT (most recent return only if in QCT) or Applying Under Decreased Revenue Criteria of Harm (all 3 years)]
• Other documentation that supports your category of economic harm, i.e. payroll reports (if applying under Employee Challenges), Business Tax Returns or invoices/accounting system documents to support COGS losses (if applying under Increased Cost of Goods), etc.  The ideal timeframes to show your economic harm will be year over year periods from 2020 to 2021 or 2021 to 2022. You may supply monthly and/or annual data that show your increased costs, whichever most clearly demonstrates your harm.
• NOTE: Businesses located within Cherokee County's Qualified Census Tract (QCT) areas meet the US Department of Treasury's "presumptively eligible" category and will have fewer required documents. To determine if your business is located in a QCT, RIGHT CLICK THIS LINK to open in another window here: 2023 QCTs (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). TO SEE IF YOU ARE IN THE QCT'S, FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS: Enter your address in the box at the upper left hand corner AND check the Color QCT Qualified Tracts box AND make sure you" zoom in" (+) to a  7+ level to see the tract.

 Please ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements for the grant:

• Business must have experienced and be able to demonstrate a negative economic impact due to the Coronavirus pandemic OR be considered "presumptively eligible" by the Department of Treasury per the business' location in a Qualified Census Tract  (SEE NOTE ABOVE with 2023 QCT's link or our website at www.cherokeega.org/grants);
• Business should employ 500 or fewer W2 employees. If over 500 employees, business should meet the size standard in number of employees for the industry (NAICS code) in which the business operates; See Table of size standards (sba.gov) if needed;
• Business headquarters or primary location must be within Cherokee County. For purposes of this grant program, primary location is defined by having 80% of your total employee count physically located at or reporting to the Cherokee location;
• Be a For Profit business;
• Hold a valid business license issued through Cherokee County , Ball Ground, Canton, Holly Springs, Nelson, Waleska or Woodstock;
• Be current on all federal and state taxes, as well as Cherokee County and municipal taxes and fees;
• Be independently owned and operated and not dominant in its field of operation;
• Ineligible businesses include gambling institutions, multi-level marketing organizations, real estate investment trusts, and adult entertainment;
• Business must not have been debarred or suspended from doing business with the federal government;
• Applicants will be deemed ineligible if any owner is presently involved in any bankruptcy or criminal action;
• Applicant must not be in the process of selling their business. 

Grant Tiers & Eligible Uses

There are three tiers of grant, based on number of employees. Part time employees may be considered in your employee count if they work a minimum of 15 hours per week on an Annual Basis.

• If you have 1-10 (W2) employees, you are eligible to apply for up to $10,000; 
• If you have 11-50 (W2) employees, you are eligible to apply for up to $20,000; 
• If you have 51-500 (W2) employees, you are eligible to apply for up to $30,000. 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND OUR FAQ SECTION, PLEASE VISIT www.cherokeega.org/grants.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the team at grantinfo@cherokeega.org or 770-528-4912. We look forward to reviewing your application!

PORTAL WILL OPEN FOR NEW SUBMISSIONS APRIL 17 - APRIL 30, 2023

 To submit your application – If you have not created an account, you will be prompted to do so. Make sure to record your email and password as you will need them to return to the portal. To continue your saved application, you can login using the panel on the left.