American Express® apoya a las pequeñas empresas

In 2021, American Express and Main Street America created the Backing Small Businesses grant program to help small business owners recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and grow their businesses. In its first year, the program awarded $1.65 million in grants to 330 small business owners nationwide, and in its second year, the program awarded over $2.3 million in grants to an additional 350 businesses. 

In its third year, the program will increase grants awarded and double total funding to more than $5.7 million to further support small business owners in building their economic vitality and fostering a thriving community. In March 2024, applications opened for 500 small business grants of $10,000 to eligible businesses in the U.S. and U.S. territories. 

Of the 500 recipients selected for $10,000 grants, a limited subset of 25 recipients will be awarded $30,000 Enhancement Grants, which will allow those business owners the opportunity to create transformative change within their business and in their community (for example, by giving back, partnering with community members, addressing cultural, environmental and/​or access needs in their community, opening a new location and/​or adding staffing). Recipients of the $10,000 grant will be required to submit a final grant report using a template provided. In addition to questions regarding the completed project, the report will include prompts on how the business would use the $30,000 Enhancement Grant. Enhancement Grant project proposals can be related to the $10,000 grant proposal or they may constitute a separate project. 

What do we mean by ​“Community Reach”?

Una pequeña empresa con alcance comunitario está implicada y es fundamental para la comunidad circundante o atiende una necesidad cultural o de capacidad específica. Suelen ser negocios antiguos o heredados que aportan continuidad y un sentido de identidad a un vecindario o a un grupo cultural específico. Las empresas con alcance comunitario también han desarrollado intencionadamente valores fundamentales y un modelo de negocio que apoya a sus comunidades o aborda una necesidad acuciante de la comunidad. Por ejemplo, una empresa que organiza regularmente conciertos gratuitos con artistas locales, o una tienda que ofrece productos o servicios exclusivos para una clientela de la comunidad.

Antecedentes del programa

This program marks the latest effort in American Express’ ​“Backing Small” initiative to provide financial support and resources to help small business owners thrive and recover stronger from disasters. Other Backing Small programs include Backing Historic Small Restaurants. Backing Small complements American Express’ Shop Small and Small Business Saturday.

Póngase en contacto con SmallBizGrant@mainstreet.org

o llame al 312-610-5613 y deje un mensaje de voz con cualquier otra pregunta. Por favor, espere hasta dos(2) días hábiles completos para responder a todas las preguntas.

Main Street America (el Centro Nacional de Main Street) se ha asociado con American Express para lanzar el programa "Backing Small Businesses" (el "Backing Small Businesses grant program") que es administrado por Main Street America. Todas las Solicitudes pasan a ser propiedad exclusiva del Patrocinador y la información de las Solicitudes puede facilitarse a American Express. Consulte la política de privacidad de Main Street America aquí.