Bethel Announces Second Round of COVID Grants to Small Businesses

The Town of Bethel is offering a second round of Small Business Assistance Program grants to eligible Bethel-based small businesses that employ 25 or fewer employees and that have been adversely impacted by the COVID pandemic. Grant applications of up to $5,000 will be accepted between January 4 - February 1, 2022. The town granted over $127,000 to 34 Bethel businesses in its first round of grants.  

Bethel’s Economic Development Commission (EDC) created the program in response to the coronavirus pandemic and to assist small businesses that have been negatively impacted. The program is funded by ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act). “This second round is intended for those small businesses that for various reasons did not apply during the first round,” said Mike Boyle, chairman of the EDC, which continues to follow the impact of the pandemic.                

“As businesses deal with some of the same challenges from last year, a new set of challenges lie ahead, especially with the continued uncertainty of the pandemic,” said Janice Chrzescijanek, director of the Economic Development Department. “We believe that Bethel’s small businesses will benefit from this program and that it will provide the financial resources needed to address some of these challenges and make their businesses stronger.”

Caption – Mike Boyle, chairman of Bethel's Economic Development Commission, as he awarded one of the first round small business COVID grants to Karen Petri, one of the owners of the Petri School of Irish Dancing.