Small Business Readiness for Resiliency

To be eligible to receive a grant from the Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program, a business must meet the following criteria.  

• 500 employees or fewer
• Complete the free checklist (5 minutes)
• Located in the U.S. or territories (includes Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, etc.)
• A Business Employee Identification Number (EIN) is required
• Not be part of a franchise brand with more than 25 corporate-owned stores, or more than 250 stores in total  
• Not be in an ineligible business category (as defined in the Terms and Conditions)
• Be located in a county that receives state-declared State of Emergency order or disaster declaration  
• Have been financially harmed by a disaster and incur an uncovered loss
• Incur applicable disaster-related damages or losses that equal or exceed $5,000  
• Agree to all the program terms and conditions

More information on eligibility and process can be found here.

Last updated: June 2025

Last updated: June 2025

Note: Please check our FAQs on a regular basis for any updates.

WHAT BUSINESSES ARE ELIGIBLE?  

Any small business (500 employees or less), with an Employee Identification Number (EIN) that meets the additional program criteria outlined in our Terms and Conditions is eligible to receive a grant from the Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program (R4R). Please note that we do not fund nonprofit organizations of any type.

HOW MUCH IS THE GRANT?

Selected businesses receive $5,000 and must document at least $5,000 in disaster-related losses.

WHAT TYPES OF DISASTERS DOES R4R OFFER GRANTS FOR? 

Once a state-declared State of Emergency order or disaster declaration is made, the U.S. Chamber Foundation retains sole and absolute discretion to identify and determine whether (i) such event qualifies as a Disaster and (ii) grant support is appropriate to achieve the charitable purposes of the program. R4R will not activate for disasters that receive a declaration more than 45 days after the date of a disaster.

CAN I REGISTER FOR R4R WITHOUT COMPLETING THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST? 

Applicants must perform Step 1 of the R4R process before registering, which is to review and complete the FedEx Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Small Businesses.

WHEN WILL MY BUSINESS BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR A GRANT? 

You must register BEFORE a disaster. Once registered, if a qualifying disaster occurs in your area, we'll email you an invitation to apply. That's why acting now is critical, you can't wait until after the disaster. 

Refer to the question “WHAT TYPES OF DISASTERS DOES R4R OFFER GRANTS FOR?” for more information about when R4R activations occur. 

DOES EVERY BUSINESS IN AN IMPACTED REGION RECEIVE A GRANT? 

No, the number of grants we distribute for any disaster is based on the number of eligible applicants, size of the region, impact of the disaster, and the amount of remaining funds for the year. If there are more eligible businesses than available funding, then we will randomly allocate grants.

Applicants that are not selected to receive a grant will still be considered, should another disaster strike in their community.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO AFTER BEING INVITED TO APPLY FOR A GRANT?

You will need to complete and submit the R4R grant application. Beyond answering questions about the physical and/or economic loss you experienced from the disaster in the application, you will need to upload the following details:  

• A completed IRS W-9 Form 

• An image or documentation showing proof of your business’s loss from the disaster 

• A voided business check or banking documentation showing your business’s bank account and routing numbers

IF I HAVE MULTIPLE BUSINESSES OR BUSINESS LOCATIONS IN THE DISASTER-AFFECTED COUNTIES, CAN I RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE GRANT?

No, an eligible business or owner can only apply for a grant on behalf of one (1) business (regardless of how many businesses they own) and only receive one $5,000 grant per calendar year.

IF MY BUSINESS IS SELECTED FOR A GRANT, HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY FUNDING? 

Grant funding will be sent to businesses selected for a grant via ACH/direct deposit. Applicants will be required to provide their business’s bank account information in the R4R grant application.

WHAT CAN GRANT FUNDS BE USED FOR?

The funds can be used for business disaster recovery needs, including expenses such as rent, utilities, payroll, inventory, and equipment.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO AFTER RECEIVING A GRANT? 

You must complete two post-grant impact reports asking you about the state of your business as part of your grant agreement. The impact reports will be sent six weeks and one year, respectively, after you receive the grant. 

In addition, you must complete an online disaster-related educational course prior to completing the one-year impact report. Information regarding this course will be sent to you in the months after you receive the grant. 

Grantees that do not fulfill these requirements will not be eligible for potential media coverage related to the program and may not be eligible for future grant opportunities. In addition, the Foundation reserves the right to require repayment of the Grant if a Grant recipient does not fulfill these requirements. 

CAN I RECEIVE A GRANT MORE THAN ONCE?

Yes, each business by EIN can receive one grant per calendar year.

WILL THE R4R PROGRAM EVER END?

The U.S. of Commerce Chamber Foundation reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the R4R Program at any time.