Grants help Iowa LGBTQ businesses with expenses

A grant program from GrubHub and the Iowa LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce wants to help LGBTQ – operated businesses with expenses. Dan Jansen, board chair for the Iowa LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, explains how this program helps those businesses.

“It actually initiated during COVID, when restaurants and bars that serve food really suffered from people not going out into public,” Jansen said. “We wanted to provide a funding source to you know, help maintain and support business owners, particularly LGBTQ or allied business owners, so that they can keep their business afloat and utilize the grant funds where most needed. Whether that was operational staff, expansion, whatever it might be, they wanted to ensure that that was a source of funding for really the most needy.”

The program, now in its third year, lets grant recipients use the funding for any need, including staffing and expansion. “Today, it seems like a lot of folks are focused on growth. I think post COVID, a lot of restaurants are feeling the boom, a little bit of a burst at the seams of people visiting their restaurants or their businesses. We’re really excited to present it again this year.”

Jansen said the application process isn’t difficult but there haven’t been many applicants in the past. “Historically, in three years, Iowa has only had one recipient of the Grub Hub grant, the Impact Grant and that was because only one business applied. We are really really encouraging folks who you know, own a business or that serves food, to take the time to submit an application because it’s very straightforward, not overly complicated, and there’s great rewards for the effort.”

Grants are worth between $5,000 – $25,000, depending on the business’ needs. Applications are reviewed at the National Committee, which works to evenly disburse grant funds across the country. “It’s really, really a great program. I just can’t stress enough how we’ve got a great opportunity and how important it is for business owners to take advantage of it.”

Businesses can click here to apply for the Community Impact Grant in the central U.S. region. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, June 5 at 2 a.m. The group staggers deadlines in regions to allow time to review applications and answer questions.

The Iowa LGBTQ Chamber will be hosting educational Zoom seminars on Monday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 22 to help business owners complete their grant applications. “We have a professional grant writer who has reviewed the grant and will be able to provide tips, advice and answer questions for any business that would like to better understand how to best complete the application process.” Visit their website or Facebook page for information on the seminars.

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