Duke energy foundation small business Grant

The Duke Energy Foundation awarded Downtown Kinston $25,000 to administer the Hometown Revitalization Grant Program The funds were intended to offer $500-$2500 of support small businesses (less than 50 employees) that have been challenged by COVID-19 to change their business practices or to improve the external or internal features of their business. 

2021 Duke Energy Grant Awardees

Awardees were announced in January 2022—congratulations to all the businesses awarded!

Thanks to the Downtown Kinston Economic Vitality Committee and Design Committee, whose volunteers served as the selection committee for this grant.

COVID-19 Reimbursement  

Business owners interested in COVID-19 Reimbursement must provide evidence of expenses between March 2020-present due to changes in service, business practices, or physical location due to COVID-19 public health restrictions. These can include, but are not limited to: 

  • Purchase of extra cleaning or personal protective equipment (masks, cleaning supplies, sanitizer, temperature checking machine, etc) 

  • Offering new drive-through services due to COVID-19 

  • Offering new delivery services  

  • Offering new online purchasing services 

  • Making physical changes or additions to a business (adding a drive-through window, buying additional seating outdoors, social distancing floor stickers, plexi-glass barriers, etc.) 

*this grant is not intended to replace lost revenue due to staffing shortages or business closures, but to support the extra costs or physical changes of a business since COVID-19. 

Business/Property Improvements 

Business owners interested in Business or Property Improvements must provide a proposed budget for new projects to improve a business or property that will attract customers or help the business adapt to public health restrictions. These can include, but are not limited to: 

  • New Projects that include anything eligible under COVID-19 Reimbursement (see left)

  • Business improvements

    • establishing an online presence, improved advertising, etc.

  • Making physical changes or additions to improve the business: 

    • Façade improvements (paint, sign, awnings, lighting, historic restoration) 

    • Internal property improvements (paint, flooring, HVAC, ceiling, doors/windows, electrical, plumbing, etc.) 

    • Internal business improvements (seating, decorations, sales equipment, etc.) 

*If the business owner does not own the property where they operate, they must include a letter of permission from the property owner for the work described. All agreements must be decided between the property and business owner. 

Application Process 

Interested business owners will complete an application that requires: 

  • A summary of the business 

  • How COVID-19 has impacted the business 

  • How the funds will be used 

 Applicants that choose to be reimbursed for previous COVID-19 related expenses must include receipts with the application. Applicants that choose new COVID-19 related business/property improvements or beautification projects will be responsible for paying the cost of the improvements and then showing receipts and proof of the work before being reimbursed by DK. Applicants must check in with DK within 3 months and complete the work within 6 months.  

After the business submits their application, Downtown Kinston Revitalization’s Review Committee—a group of staff, board members, and volunteers—will review the applications and notify approved businesses within two weeks.  

Selection Criteria 

In order to have an objective process for awards, evaluation criteria have been set in place: 

30% Purpose of Grant:  Clear statement of what funds will be used for, eligible uses, reference to COVID-19 resiliency as a major part of the grant   

50% Need & Impact:  Description of need for the project, expected outcomes, need for Downtown Kinston to provide program/project. 

20% Completion & Communicativeness:  Completion of the application, complete and clear attachments to the application when requested. 

*The Duke Energy Foundation and Downtown Kinston Revitalization encourages small business owners of all business type, experience, and background to apply, including Women and Minority Owned businesses. 

Deadline 

Applications will be taken on a rolling basis and reviewed for eligibility until January 1st 2022. The Downtown Kinston Revitalization Review Committee will review applications and award them by January 15th, 2022.