The U.S. Chamber Foundation, with support from Verizon, is helping small businesses prepare for natural disasters before they happen through the Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) Mitigation Grant Program.  

The program connects disaster preparedness training with financial support to help small businesses reduce their risk from future disasters. Small businesses that complete an eligible free Disaster Resilience course through Verizon's Small Business Digital Ready platform can apply for a $5,000 R4R Mitigation Grant to support a project designed to strengthen their business against disaster-related disruptions.  

Applications are open through November 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.  

Apply Here

How to Apply 

To be eligible to apply, small businesses must first complete one of the following free Disaster Resilience courses through Verizon's Small Business Digital Ready platform:  

  • Know Your Hazards: This course helps small business owners identify the hazards common to their region and understand what’s at stake if they are unprepared.  
  • Build Your Business Continuity & Mitigation Plan: This course guides small business owners through practical steps to spot their biggest risks, put low-cost safeguards in place, and write a plan for what to do before, during, and after a disaster.

After completing a course, businesses can apply for a $5,000 R4R Mitigation Grant through November 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.  

Businesses that apply for the grant will also be automatically registered for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Small Business Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) program, which provides eligible small businesses with the opportunity to receive an additional $5,000 recovery grant if a qualifying disaster impacts their region.  

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  • Small steps now can make a big difference when disaster strikes. Small businesses that complete an eligible Disaster Resilience course through Verizon's Small Business Digital Ready platform can apply for a $5,000 competitive grant. Applications are open through Nov. 15. Learn more: https://uscc.foundation/R4RMitigationGrants 
  • Is your small business prepared for the next natural disaster? Complete a free Disaster Resilience course through Verizon's Small Business Digital Ready platform and apply for a competitive $5,000 Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) Mitigation Grant to help fund a disaster risk reduction project for your business. Applications close Nov. 15, 2026. Learn more and apply: https://uscc.foundation/R4RMitigationGrants 
  • Get your business prepared before the next disaster happens. All you have to do is complete a free Disaster Resilience course through Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready platform and apply for a competitive $5,000 Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) Mitigation Grant by Nov. 15: https://uscc.foundation/R4RMitigationGrants 

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Small businesses can’t always predict when disaster will strike, but they can take steps now to be better prepared.  

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, with support from Verizon, is helping small businesses strengthen their disaster preparedness through the Readiness for Resiliency (R4R) Mitigation Grant Program. The program connects disaster resilience training with financial support to help small businesses take practical steps to reduce their risk from natural disasters.  

To apply, businesses must first complete one of two free Disaster Resilience courses through Verizon's Small Business Digital Ready platform:  

  • Know Your Hazards, which helps small business owners identify the hazards common to their region and understand what’s at stake if they are unprepared. 
  • Build Your Business Continuity & Mitigation Plan, which guides small business owners through practical steps to spot their biggest risks, put low-cost safeguards in place, and write a plan for what to do before, during, and after a disaster. 

After completing one of these courses, small businesses can apply for a competitive $5,000 R4R Mitigation Grant to support a disaster risk reduction project.  

Applications are open now through Nov. 15 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Applicants will be notified of their grant status by January 2027. Businesses that apply will also be automatically registered for the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s R4R recovery grant program, which provides an additional $5,000 grant if a qualifying disaster impacts their region.

Learn more and apply here: https://uscc.foundation/R4RMitigationGrants 

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Contact

Please reach out to resilience@uschamber.com with any questions.

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