Main Street Disaster Resilience Fund

• Eligible business owners must meet the following criteria:
  • At least 50% owner of a business that has been operational for at least two years   
  • Owner of a business with annual revenue over $100,000  
  • Own & operate a brick-and-mortar business located in the qualifying disaster-impacted zip code(s)   
  • Have a business bank account  
  • Can demonstrate direct, material impact from the eligible disaster, which may include physical damage to the business premises or business property  

The Main Street Disaster Resilience Fund will be activated for qualifying disasters, which will be determined based on standards set by Visa and the American Red Cross.  

Any small business owner who meets the eligibility criteria is welcome to apply by following the application link, which will be made available when applications are live. By clicking the link, applicants will be prompted to log in or create a free account through Submittable, AOF’s application hosting platform, in order to complete the online application form. Applicants must have answered all application questions and provided all requested documentation in order to be eligible. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. 

Main Street Disaster Resilience Fund grants are limited and awarded on a rolling basis. Applicants are vetted by Accion Opportunity Fund to ensure they substantially meet all program criteria. Applicants must have answered all application questions and provided all required documentation to be eligible. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. 

Business owners should only apply to the Main Street Disaster Resilience Fund once per activation. Duplicated entries will be excluded from consideration. Selected grantees will receive one grant per business. Each individual business owner may only apply once per activation and is only eligible to receive one grant even if he or she owns more than one business. 

No, each individual business owner may only apply once per activation and is only eligible to receive one grant even if he or she owns more than one business. 

Main Street Disaster Resilience Fund grants are limited and awarded on a rolling basis. Applicants are vetted by Accion Opportunity Fund to ensure they substantially meet all program criteria. Applicants must have answered all application questions and provided all required documentation to be eligible. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. 

• Most recent business tax returns. Businesses that file a Schedule C as part of the owner’s personal 1040 tax return must upload the first two pages of the 1040 along with the Schedule C. Businesses that file taxes through an 1120, 1120S, or 1065 must upload ALL pages of the most recent business tax returns.  
• All pages of the most recent business bank statement  
• Front-and-back copy of photo identification (driver’s license, state ID, passport, permanent resident card, matricula consular, tribal card, military ID, or trusted traveler ID)  
• At least one photograph of disaster-related damage to the brick-and-mortar business location, where safe and practicable, plus at least two pieces of sufficient corroborating documentation to verify direct impact. Acceptable documents may include photographs, insurer correspondence, FEMA/SBA documentation, repair estimates, landlord notices, municipal inspection reports, utility notices, invoices, receipts, evacuation or closure orders, or dated third-party media/documentation.

Applications will be accepted and awarded on a rolling basis. The exact timing of notification will vary based on the grant cycle. Small business owners who submit an application will receive additional information from Accion Opportunity Fund. All applicants to the Main Street Disaster Resilience Fund will be notified, whether they are selected to receive a grant or not, via an email from Accion Opportunity Fund. Selected applicants will be required to complete additional verification steps and provide further documentation in order to receive the grant funds. 

Selected grantees will receive a $10,000 business grant to support their recovery and resilience in the aftermath of natural disasters.  

Yes – the Main Street Disaster Resilience Fund is designed to provide short-term relief while insurance and other organizations offering relief services are still mobilizing.

The Main Street Disaster Resilience Fund is a grant program that provides eligible small businesses with grants to support their recovery and resilience. This is a non-dilutive and non-debt award – awarded grants do not require repayment.

No, you do not need to be a Visa or Accion Opportunity Fund customer to be eligible to apply to the Main Street Disaster Resilience Fund.

• Adult entertainment including strip clubs, escort services, adult bookstores, and businesses whose principal business is the sale of pornography  
• Tobacco stores, smoke shops, cigarette & cigar retailers and wholesalers, cigarette stands  
• Firearms sellers, merchants, retailers, or wholesalers; ammunition sales; gun clubs; shooting ranges  
• Marijuana related businesses; cannabis dispensaries, marijuana crop farming, edibles, CBD products  
• Massage parlors, saunas, or hot tub facilities  
• Illegal activities  
• Gambling and betting activities, racetracks  
• Real estate investment companies (residential and commercial), house flippers, hotels, businesses whose principal source of revenue is rental income  
• Banking and financial institutions; central banking; other monetary intermediation; trusts, funds, and similar financial entities  
• Merchant service companies, merchant sales organizations, payment services  
• Lending businesses; payday lenders, title lenders, other credit granting  
• Small Business loan brokers  
• Check cashers  
• Bail bonds  
• Pawn shops  
• Collection companies/lawyers or debt consolidation firms  
• Multi-level marketing companies or businesses based on pyramid sales plans  
• Nonprofit organizations  
• Religious organizations, churches, temples, mosques and shrines and other services provided specifically for the religious community  
• Activities of political organizations  
• Transportation of hazardous materials  
• Oil and gas exploration/securities  
• Rideshare (i.e. Uber/Lyft drivers)