The Hartford Donates $1M To U.S. Small Businesses To Aid In COVID-19 Recovery

The Hartford committed $1 million in grants to support U.S. small businesses in partnership with Main Street America, a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development.

The Hartford will sponsor grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000, as administered through Main Street America, to help businesses with a variety of COVID-related hardship improvements, including storefront modifications, technology to enable online sales, and other operating model adjustments. Eligible businesses include those which employ 20 or fewer employees and maintain a brick-and-mortar presence within their community’s commercial district. A minimum of 50 percent of grants will benefit diverse-owned businesses, defined by the Small Business Administration as minority, female, veteran, disabled and/or LGBTQ-owned.

“The incredible resilience and innovation our small business customers have shown as they’ve adapted to a new normal has been inspiring,” said Stephanie Bush, head of Small Commercial and Personal Lines for The Hartford. “We are committed to providing them with support as they continue to navigate these challenging times.”

Social distancing orders and the onset of various state-to-state reopening plans have left small businesses vulnerable. A recent survey by Main Street America found that 78 percent of respondents had applied for federal relief associated with COVID-19 and only 48 percent of those had received funding. Small businesses –those with fewer than six employees- had the least success obtaining relief, only 39 percent received funding.

“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on small, locally-owned businesses and they need our support like never before,” said Patrice Frey, president and CEO of the National Main Street Center. “We are thrilled to partner with The Hartford to alleviate some of the financial burden small businesses are experiencing and support the resilience and recovery of older and historic Main Streets and commercial districts.”

To learn more about eligibility requirements and to start a submission, applicants can visit www.mainstreet.org/hartbeat.

The Hartford has been insuring small business owners for more than 200 years and was one of the first carriers to create a dedicated business unit for small commercial customers more than 30 years ago. The company, along with its agents, serves more than one million small business customers.

About The Hartford

The Hartford is a leader in property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds. With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at https://www.thehartford.com. Follow us on Twitter at @TheHartford_PR.