Louisiana small businesses can now seek reimbursement for pandemic-related costs

Louisiana Treasurer John Schroder announced Tuesday that Louisiana’s small businesses can now apply for grants that the Louisiana Legislature established to help them survive the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The Main Street Recovery Program is funded with $275 million the Louisiana Legislature set aside during this year’s regular session to help the state’s small businesses.  Republicans in the Legislature carved that money out of the $800 million that Gov. John Bel Edwards intended to disburse to local governments for coronavirus relief.

Business owners can complete their applications online at www.louisianamainstreet.com

“Our small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they’re hurting because of the financial impact of COVID-19,” Schroder said in a Tuesday morning press release. “I encourage every small business owner to visit our website, take the eligibility quiz and apply if they meet the requirements. We don’t want our businesses to close. We want them to thrive.”

There are two kinds of grants available.  The QuickRelief grant provides up to $5,000 to qualifying businesses that received $1,000 or less in federal funding or other assistance.

• QuickRelief offers an abbreviated application process and reduced documentation requirements, and will give grants of up to $5,000 to qualifying businesses who received $1,000 or less in federal funding or other assistance.
• The Cost Reimbursement grant will provide up to $15,000 to qualifying businesses that can provide documentation of eligible expenses related to the pandemic.