City of Dayton Resiliency Fund Grant

The Resiliency Fund: City of Dayton is a local microgrant initiative developed to support Black and Brown minority-owned small businesses operating within the City of Dayton, Ohio. This fund aims to assist businesses experiencing immediate financial hardship and to stabilize operations so they can continue through the remainder of the 2025 calendar year. The program emphasizes equity and targeted economic support by focusing solely on minority-owned enterprises within the corporate limits of Dayton. Funded by the Miami Valley Urban League (MVUL) and administered by the Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative (GCMI), the Resiliency Fund offers three tiers of financial support: Tier 1 provides $2,500 through Operational Emergency Relief Grants, Tier 2 offers $5,000 via Community Opportunity Grants, and Tier 3 allocates $10,000 through Catalyst Investment Relief Grants. Each tier has specific minimum revenue thresholds and a maximum cap of $1.5 million in annual revenue. Businesses may only apply for one tier per cycle, and submitting multiple applications will disqualify the applicant. To qualify, businesses must have been operational for at least nine months, be current on all City of Dayton taxes, and present documentation such as a Certificate of Good Standing with the State of Ohio, proof of minority ownership, 2023 business tax return, a 2024 financial statement or tax return, and three months of both bank and point of sale statements. A signed IRS Form W-9, a valid photo ID, and documentation proving the need for funds—such as outstanding bills or rent—are also required. Applications for the 2025 round open on May 14th and close on June 1st, or sooner if the application cap is reached. There are 20 awards available each for Tiers 1 and 2, and 15 for Tier 3. Applications are accepted through an online portal, and communication is conducted solely via email. If a business is selected, it becomes ineligible for any further Resiliency Fund grants in 2025. Additionally, applicants who received more than one Resiliency Grant in 2023 and 2024 are not eligible to apply this cycle. The fund explicitly excludes nonprofit organizations and businesses not located within Dayton's corporate limits. Each application cycle is independent, and businesses not selected must reapply if they wish to be reconsidered in a future cycle. This approach ensures fairness and maximizes the distribution of limited funds to those in greatest need within the community. For questions or communication, applicants should use the application portal or contact the organizers via email at infoeec@ulgso.org or by phone at (513) 281-9955.