Wayne County small businesses struggling after the Aug. 12 floods have an opportunity to receive grants up to $5,000.
The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce announced Aug. 21 the Business Bridge Grant Program operating through its Chamber Center for Excellence. The program makes $3,000 to $5,000 available for small businesses. Funding comes from the chamber, Economic Growth Group and Wayne County government.
Melissa Vance, the chamber’s president and CEO, appeared during a special Wayne County commissioners meeting Aug. 21 to request $50,000 that would lift the initial pot to $200,000. She said the money is so “businesses in the flood-affected areas (are) able to have a small distribution of funds to help them until other potential funding comes through.” That includes insurance payments, state funding or federal relief.
“Sometimes those dollars are delayed, and we have people in need now, especially our smallest businesses,” Vance said.
Commissioners approved contributing $50,000 from the county’s economic development income tax fund, and decided to begin discussions with the Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County and Wayne County Council to make consolidated EDIT funds available if the program’s demand warrants additional funding. The program’s structure ensures all available funding goes directly to impacted businesses to cover flood-related expenses.
Applicants must be located in Wayne County, must employ fewer than 20 people, must have been operating at the time of the flood, must demonstrate direct loss due to flooding and must commit to maintaining operations in Wayne County. Applications will be reviewed based on flood impact, immediate financial need and recovery potential.
Applications are available at the chamber’s website, WCAreaChamber.org/resources.html.
In-person assistance with the application process will be available from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 24 at Cambridge City Christian Church, 106 W. Church St., Cambridge City, and Hagerstown Town Hall, 49 E. College St., Hagerstown.
The chamber will continue accepting donations to expand the program’s funding. Donations can be made at wwn.to/chamberbridgegive.
A version of this article will appear in the August 26 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
