Patterson Family Foundation providing aid to area businesses

Collaborating with Cloudcorp on a Rural Small Business Pandemic Relief Opportunity provided by the Patterson Family Foundation was approved by the Cloud County board of commissioners during its regular meeting on Monday.
The Patterson Family Foundation, a private foundation based in Kansas City, Mo., will provide up to $100,000 in grant funds for grants that are designed to provide temporary relief to small rural businesses as they navigate the reopening guidelines across Kansas.
Awards of up to $5,000 are available to fund solutions that help small businesses respond and adapt to the pandemic.
Eligible grant expenses include, but are not limited to: Physical improvements to business space to meet reopening guidance because of COVID-19; equipment to comply with public health and safety guidelines (i.e. contactless payment methods, spatial barriers, automatic door open sensors, disposable menus, etc.); fees associated with expanding the business to e-commerce sales; other professional services (i.e. business plan modifications, additional custodial services, curbside/delivery personnel, etc.); rent, payroll and other operating expenses.
Criteria for funding consideration for funds include: The applicant business is in good standing; the applicant's business has been operational since at least January 1, 2019; the applicant can demonstrate financial hardship because of COVID-19;  the applicant is an owner of the business; the applicant must not be the subject of a current legal judgement, a pending criminal or legal investigation, garnishment or a tax lien; the applicant operates a “brick-and-mortar” storefront, e-commerce or home-based business. Multilevel marketing programs are not eligible for this opportunity; the applicant is at least 18 years or older.
Applications must be done online at pattersonfamilyfoundation.org prior to 11:59 p.m. October 5.
The Patterson Family Foundation is a family-led foundation extending the legacy of Neal and Jeanne Patterson through collaborations in health care, education and rural communities.
Earlier this year, the Patterson Family Foundation, working with Cloud County Health Department director Brandi Bray, donated 870 masks to Cloud County, along with touchless foaming hand sanitizers and refills to be placed in county offices and polling locations for the election.
CloudCorp executive director Kim Reynolds said that the Patterson Family Foundation selected Cloud County as one of 12 counties to receive the grant funds because of the good experience it had in working with Bray and other county officials on the donation of the personal protective equipment.
“That is why they selected us, they had a good experience with Brandi and the Health Department,” Reynolds said.