City launches Triple A program to help small businesses

6amcity_rictoday_richmond_vascott-graham-5fNmWej4tAA-unsplash

The Triple A Business Assistance Program will help small businesses with pandemic relief + growth. | Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash

Assess. Address. Activate.

No, that’s not our newest affirmation — they’re the three core steps of the city’s new Triple A Business Assistance Program.

Created with funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, the program will provide targeted assistance to small businesses in Richmond. The city’s Office of Minority Business Development is leading the charge.

Here’s how it works. Eligible small businesses can apply for the program. After a selection committee reviews the application, chosen participants will undergo extensive “assessment” to determine strengths and weaknesses. The business will then be assigned a strategist to help develop a business plan (“address”) + will be provided with resources to execute the plan (“activate”).

To qualify, businesses must:

  • Be physically located in the City of Richmond
  • Have no more than 50 employees and/or independent contractors
  • Not exceed $750,000 in revenue annually
  • Have been in business for three years at minimum
  • Be in good standing with the State Corporation Commission
  • Be registered with the Office of Minority Business Development

The OMBD is hosting two virtual information sessions before the application deadline. Tune in and get your questions answered Thurs., Feb. 3 at 12 p.m. + Wed., Feb. 9 at 6 p.m. Registration is required to attend.

Interested, or know a small business owner who might be? The deadline to submit an application is Tues., Feb. 15. Access the application here.

More from RICtoday
“A thing is so much more than a thing when it connects you to a person, especially when it connects you to a person who might not be with you anymore,” said Repair Café RVA founder Jenny Kobayashi Malone.
Whether you’re a novice or a pool shark, there’s a table for you in the River City
Rounding the corner on Repair Café RVA’s first anniversary, we chat with organizer Jenny Kobayashi Malone about community impact, milestone repairs, and future goals.
RICtoday readers shared which local restaurants and meals spark deep nostalgia — and we think you’ll agree.
Bookmark this page to your favorites tab so you can quickly return and find the top events happening each month in Richmond.
Learn how these two Brandcenter students catapulted from graduation to the Super Bowl, and get an early look at the ad they helped create.
“Big Scouse” will look into the living legacy of Terry O’Neill, the man who founded Penny Lane in downtown Richmond.
The Venerable Monks of the Dhammacetiya passed through Richmond for the Walk of Peace on Sunday, Feb. 1, and Monday, Feb. 2.
Whether you’re interested in local news, music, sports, or wellness, there’s a River City podcast for you.
Baseball fans and anyone curious about the new stadium have until Friday, Feb. 27, to enter a randomized ticket lottery for Opening Night at CarMax Park.