The Backing Small Businesses Disaster Recovery Grant Program, administered by the National Main Street Center in partnership with American Express, provides financial assistance to locally significant small businesses impacted by natural disasters. The initiative is part of the broader Backing Small Businesses program that aims to support economic vitality among small business owners. Specifically, this round offers grants to those located in older or historic downtowns or commercial districts affected by FEMA-declared disasters occurring on or after January 1, 2024.
Applications for the Disaster Recovery Grants will be accepted from May 7, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. CT to May 21, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT. A total of 100 grants, each worth $10,000, are available. In addition, recipients of the $10,000 grant who successfully complete their recovery projects will be eligible to apply for a $30,000 Enhancement Grant to implement transformative initiatives in their communities. Enhancement proposals must be submitted as part of the final grant report and cannot duplicate the initial project scope.
To qualify, businesses must have been operational before January 1, 2024, be situated in a FEMA-designated disaster area, and operate out of a physical, brick-and-mortar location in a historically or locally significant area. Applicants must not have previously received a disaster-related grant from American Express and must employ 20 or fewer full-time staff. Additionally, the business must be a registered entity in good standing and not part of a national franchise. Applicants must also be 18 years or older and an owner of the business.
Applications will be evaluated based on the feasibility of the proposed project, the extent of need due to disaster impact, the potential impact of the grant on recovery efforts, and the business's local significance. Acceptable uses of grant funds include community programs, equipment, marketing, operational support, physical repairs, cleanup, technology investments, payroll, and resilience-building projects. Loan repayments are explicitly excluded.
Interested applicants can submit their proposals via the program webpage and are encouraged to review application tips and criteria through the informational webinar held on May 6, 2025. Successful applicants will be notified in June 2025 and are required to submit final grant reports by October 2025. For more information, individuals can contact the program at SmallBizGrant@mainstreet.org or call 312-610-5613.
