INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Regardless of how COVID-19 pandemic plays out in the coming weeks and months, it already been brutal for small businesses, with some of them
forced close for public safety, while others are taking a big hit in both revenue and access to credit .
So Facebook announced today that
it creating a $100 million grant program for small businesses
Applications aren''t open yet, but the company says this will include both ad credits and cash grants that can be spent on operational costs
like paying workers and paying rent
It will be available to up to 30,000 businesses in the the 30-plus countries where Facebook operates.
Facebook has also created a Business
Hub with tips and resources for businesses trying to survive during the outbreak..
We want to do more,& said COO Sheryl Sandberg in a
&Teams across our company are working every day to help businesses
We&re looking at additional ways to host virtual trainings & and will have more to share in the coming weeks & and we&re finding more ways
to help people connect and learn to use technology through Blueprint, our free e-learning training program.
In addition, the company
announced today that it partnering with the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and the Local Media Association to offer a total of $1 million
in grants for United States and Canadian newsrooms that need more resources to properly cover the pandemic
These individual grants will be up for up to $5,000.
