The Byerly Foundation has approved an initial grant of $150,000 for the All-America City Comeback Business 2020 Campaign. Since the initial funding by the Byerly Foundation, several other organizations have also contributed to the campaign. This All-America City Comeback Business Campaign is imperative to help save our small businesses that are suffering the economic impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign would provide short-term relief to brick and mortar businesses within the city limits of Hartsville that are experiencing a reduction in revenue because of COVID-19. The need to support small businesses that are struggling to access capital, keep their doors open, and or re-open is critical to the economic vitality of Hartsville and its citizens.

In 2016, the City of Hartsville received the All-America City award.  Four years later, our city was bustling with very few spaces for new businesses to occupy, and lots of new construction and renovations were occurring throughout Hartsville.  Hartsville Mayor Mel Pennington noted the City’s thankfulness to the Byerly Foundation by saying, “Small businesses are the heart of our city. These business owners have always been the first ones to step up and help the City in any way that they possibly can. Their charm is what excites visitors when they come to our town to explore and eventually fall in love with. They are the friendly faces that we pass along the sidewalk or in the aisles of the grocery stores. They are the ones that support our local sports teams and other events. We would not be Hartsville without the life that these businesses give us. The City of Hartsville is very grateful for the Byerly Foundation’s commitment and dedication to serving these businesses and ensuring that they are able to stay in Hartsville for our future generations to also enjoy.”

Chair of the Byerly Foundation, Bob Brown stated, “The Byerly Foundation has been monitoring community need through a weekly COVID-19 conference call. We are thoroughly impressed with how our community has risen to the healthcare challenge, the difficulties associated with re-imagining our schools and how we’ve been able to keep essential services up and running. We will continue to monitor these areas and address areas of need if we can, but we are deeply concerned about our small business community. To that end, we are proud to partner with the City of Hartsville to establish the All American City Comeback Fund to provide assistance to this vital part of the community.”

The All-America City Comeback Business Campaign will be facilitated by the City of Hartsville and a committee of local stake holders including representatives from the Byerly Foundation, the City of Hartsville, the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce, Coker University, and a local small business owner. The Byerly Foundation’s donation kick starts this grant program, but there are opportunities for others in the community to get involved in order to save our small businesses. North Industrial Machine and the Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce have already made generous donations to this fund. Anyone interested in contributing to the fund may contact or email shannon.munoz@hartsvillesc.gov. Donations are tax deductible and may be made payable to the City of Hartsville. All contributed funds will be distributed directly to the businesses awarded.

This Small Business Stabilization Forgivable (SBSF) Loan will benefit businesses with fifty (50) employees or less.  Priority would be given to businesses with ten (10) or less employees with part-time employees being converted into full-time equivalents.  Eligible applicants must demonstrate revenue decreases due to the COVID-19 crisis.  Priority would be given to our most vulnerable business owners.

Eligible Applicants:

  • Businesses with 50 or fewer employees at the time of application submission
  • Businesses operational in the City of Hartsville for at least one (1) year
  • Priority will be given to our most vulnerable businesses with ten (10) or fewer employees
  • Businesses with a physical location within the City of Hartsville with a current business license
  • Businesses with Hospitality Tax paid through February 2020 (where applicable)
  • Businesses with documented or exhibited losses due to COVID-19.

Ineligible Applicants:

  • Businesses engaged in illegal activities
  • Businesses engaged in multi-level marketing
  • Businesses exclusively residential/home-based
  • Businesses that lobby
  • Businesses that are government entities
  • Businesses that are non-profit organizations
  • Businesses with past due tax liabilities or tax liens (Corporate or Personal)
  • Businesses that are franchises
  • Liquor/ABC stores
  • National/Regional Chain Businesses (unless locally owned or operated)
  • Financial/Lending Institutions
  • Private membership businesses
  • Fraternal organizations
  • Adult-oriented businesses
  • Religious organizations

Applications will be accepted through June 15, 2020. This is a rolling application and applicants will be evaluated when received. Awards will be given on a case by case basis and will range between $2,500-$5,000. Applications will be available online on May 8th by 8 a.m. at hartsvillesc.gov/comeback.

More information on this All America City Comeback 2020 Business Campaign can be found on the City of Hartsville’s website.