YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
The Efactory is the top recipient in the latest coronavirus relief grant round from Greene County.
The Greene County Commission yesterday approved 40 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act grant applications totaling more than $571,000, according to a news release. Missouri State University's downtown Efactory business incubator accounted for $300,000 of the sum.
The second-largest single grant award was $15,000, going to each Civil Kitchen and Pearson-Kelly Technology.
County officials indicated the Efactory funding would be used for technology expenses, according to the release.
“This award will help many startups and small businesses in our community,” Efactory Director Rachel Anderson said in an emailed statement. “This award will allow us to make facility updates to allow for social distancing and technology additions to make virtual and hybrid meetings and trainings possible – not only for us, but all our clients, partners, resource groups and businesses throughout our community.”
Earlier this year, the Efactory urged caution over its operations losing access to state budget funds due to withholdings, and the incubator also canceled its annual business accelerator program due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An entrepreneurial pitch contest is scheduled next month, with a $10,000 cash prize.
With the county's latest funding round, the commission has given the green light to more than $25 million of the $34.4 million total it must allocate by year's end, according to the release. In addition to small businesses, funding has been awarded in the categories of education, health care, nonprofits and community organizations, and taxpayer-supported entities.
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