EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – The Excelsior Springs Chamber of Commerce offers aid to businesses “affected and greatly diminished by the COVID-19 pandemic though a grant program,” chamber President Elaina Lamley said.

The amount available per applicant has not been set, she said.

“It will depend on how much money is donated through community donations and T-shirt sales,” Lamley said.

Grant amounts could be in the $100 to $200 range, she said.

“But I’m hoping we have a couple thousand dollars worth of donations coming in,” Lamley said, “with more coming in allowing more to go out.”

Since starting the effort a week ago, she said, 10 businesses have applied for funds.

“I’m really excited about this,” Lamley said, with about $1,000 having been collected so far.

The grant application form is available on the chamber’s home page at exspgschamber.com. In the light blue bar, hover over “COVID-19 update,” then click to bring up the “OneTownOneTeam” grant information. When that pops up, click on “apply now.”

“The funding from this program is meant to serve as a bridge while you wait for business to go back to usual or for when more substantial federal funding becomes available,” chamber information states. “The money available for this grant is from local businesses and community members who have donated specifically to help our Excelsior Springs businesses. This one-time grant is available to any business in the Excelsior Springs community.”

The chamber offered specific information to those seeking a grant:

• Your business must be located in Excelsior Springs;

• Your business must still be open, even if temporarily shut down due to being non-essential;

• This application is open to all businesses, but chamber members and partners in good standing prior to March 1 will be given priority;

• Applications will be reviewed within 48-72 hours and money will be awarded on a rolling basis, meaning that as long as the fund has money coming in, money will be going out;

• The timeline of awarding money is 100% dependent upon how much money is in the fund; and

• Be as specific as possible when filling out the request form.

“We are working as quickly, diligently and ethically as possible,” chamber information states.

The form will remain confidential. All names, business and personal, will be stripped from the form prior to submission to the committee. Lamley will be the only person with direct access to all information.

“This is our time to come together as business leaders, community members and patrons to support you as #One-TownOneTeam,” chamber information states.