Licensing International is looking to lend a helping hand to the industry’s small business employers that are struggling during the COVID-19 outbreak with the launch of its Small Business Global Grants Fund.
With small businesses making up 59 per cent of its membership, Licensing International recognises them as the ‘foundation of the industry’s communities, economy, and its lifeblood.’ The new Licensing International Small Business Global Grants Fund will therefore provide $5,000 grants to as many small employers across the globe as possible.
The aim is to create and maintain safe, healthy, and sustainable work environments in response to the global pandemic.
The grants program is being funded by donations made to Licensing International’s foundation (operating under the name LIMA Foundation). Companies wishing to contribute to the cause can do so either by purchasing an ad in the programme for the 2020 Licensing International Excellence Awards (taking place virtually on August 13th), or by making a direct donation to the Global Grants fund for any amount.
“If recent events have taught us anything, it’s how absolutely vital community is,” said Maura Regan, president, Licensing International. “The central idea behind the Licensing International Small Business Global Grants fund is industry supporting industry – our hope is that these supplemental funds will give businesses in need a boost to get through the next days and weeks so that the licensing community as a whole emerges from this global crisis stronger and even more united.”
Funds will be available to small businesses in the brand licensing industry that employ between three and 20 people and have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants will be asked to submit a short narrative explaining the impact of COVID-19 on their business and the steps they have taken, or plan to take, to mitigate that impact, as well as financial statements from 2019 and the corresponding months in 2020 that show year-over-year impact on your business.
Applications for grants are now being accepted at www.LicensingInternational.org.
Deadline to apply is September 15, 2020.
