Companies and organizations across the U.S. have stepped up to the plate to help entrepreneurs navigate the COVID-19 crisis in tremendous ways. One of those organizations is the Thryv Foundation, which is the charitable and educational organization created by small business automation software provider Thryv, Inc.
The foundation has provided several rounds of grants to over 100 small businesses in need of relief, through their Small Business COVID-19 Grant Program, a grant application program that awards immediate grants to struggling small businesses.
The foundation aims to empower, develop and invest in small businesses across the nation. Many small businesses and franchisees had applied for the PPP loans or the SBA’s EIDL but unfortunately the funds did not come fast enough to give them a fighting chance to survive during the pandemic. Within 14 days of the Thryv Foundation’s launch of their COVID-19 program, they awarded two waves of small business grants with gifts between $2,500 – $15,000.
David Riddell, franchise owner of Big Frog Custom T Shirts & More of Asheville and Durham, North Carolina, was one of the lucky recipients of the Foundation’s grants.
“Our company is event-based and when the shutdowns went into effect our sales dropped drastically but we still had bills that needed to be paid. Luckily, we were selected as one of the Thryv Foundation’s grant recipients and received $3,000 which allowed us to pay our rent in addition to other operational and marketing efforts,” said Riddell.
“The grant was extremely helpful as we received it before our PPP and EIDL loans kicked in and they allowed us to keep pushing our local community further.”