Pay It Forward Grant Program

The Pay It Forward Grant Program—supported by the Chamber, Ashe County Job Development, the County of Ashe, and many generous individual donations—was created to aid Ashe County small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants of up to $3,000 were made available for businesses to use for operational costs, including payroll, rent, and inventory expenses. Recipients were under no obligation to repay the grant funds but were encouraged to consider donating back to the fund to help facilitate future assistance to other local businesses in need.

As a result of community generosity and continued reinvestment in the program, the Pay It Forward Grant Program awarded over $130,000 in grants to 51 Ashe County small businesses. This influx of funds provided help to many business owners during a period of unprecedented challenges. Yet, these grants proved crucial for some in allowing their businesses to remain in operation once COVID restrictions eased.

Have questions about the grant program? Call the Chamber at (336) 846-9550 to learn more.