Jacksonville-Onslow Economic Development received a $25,000 check from the Duke Energy Foundation last week.
The Duke Energy Foundation announced last week that $700,000 of new funding will be made available to North Carolina small businesses in partnership with community development organizations.
Small business grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 will be distributed through 20 community organizations to support retail shops, restaurants, and other small businesses looking to expand, upgrade technology, and improve downtown storefronts.
Now in its fourth year, the grant program has provided over $2 million in funding to small businesses since its inception during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Duke Energy.
“The Duke Energy Foundation’s small business grant program has helped fuel a resurgence of entrepreneurial small businesses in North Carolina ranging from bookstores to restaurants,” said Kendal Bowman, president of Duke Energy North Carolina. “These small business grants ensure main streets across our state are well positioned to benefit from economic development efforts.”
Small businesses play a critical role in the state’s economic health and employ nearly half of North Carolina’s workforce, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration cited by Duke Energy.
Small businesses interested in applying for funding are encouraged to inquire with the local nonprofit administering the program for their community.
