Nevada County has awarded an additional $50,000 in relief funds to 20 microbusinesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All microbusinesses received $2,500 in grant funding. Nevada County has awarded a total of $107,500 to 43 microbusinesses.
“Thank you, Sierra Business Council and Nevada County, for creating this opportunity for our small businesses. We are honored and grateful to be included in this grant allowance and business connectivity,” said Cate Keller of Father Daughter Farm. “We are a small, family-owned farm. Providing produce exclusively within the western half of Nevada county has allowed us to get to know our customers and community in a deeply enriching way; however, with our current economy, we recognized both the need and opportunity to expand our business. The Nevada County Microbusiness Grant will allow us to lay the groundwork to secure a larger customer base and, in the near future, create an additional job here within our county.”
“I’m very excited to receive this grant,” said Deb Foxen, owner of Foxen Shuttle, which provides transportation to Sacramento Airport, San Francisco Airport, Reno, or any destination in Sacramento. Deb got the idea to start a transport service during a 17-year-long career transporting troops in Europe. “I’ve been struggling through COVID and now the gas prices. What a great surprise! This will help so much. Thank you.”
The additional 20 awarded businesses reside in Nevada City, Grass Valley, Penn Valley, and North San Juan. Diverse business types included transportation, health and wellness, salons and spas, alternative medicine, artists in paint and illustration, cleaning services, agriculture and farming, childcare providers, music studios, and instrument repair.
“This program focused on supporting the very small businesses that help make Nevada County a special place to live and work,” said Nevada County CEO Alison Lehman. “We recognize the creativity, diversity, and resilience of our community in these small business owner grant awards.”
The program was made possible by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate and the California Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant program that Nevada County applied to in November 2021. Find more information about the program on Nevada County’s Microbusiness Grants website. Nevada County contracted with Sierra Business Council to administer the application and provide technical assistance.