LaQuita Rainey’s business is closed due to COVID-19, so when she learned she would receive a $5,000 Women Owned grant, she couldn’t hold back her emotions.
“I started yelling in the phone, saying, ‘Thank you, Jesus.’ I got just a little emotional, because it was unexpected and I certainly need it,” said Rainey, owner of Elder House Adult Daycare in El Dorado.
“We’ve been closed for a month, but I’m trying to continue pay my staff that’s not able to work.”
Elder House was one of 10 women-owned businesses selected by the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas for its first round of grants.
Launched April 1, the Women Owned grant fund was created by WFA in response to the coronavirus. The foundation announced the first recipients April 17.
Rainey learned about the grant from Janell Morton of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center at Southern Arkansas University.
“She told me about it, she sent me the link, and then she provided a letter to go along with it,” said Rainey. “I wouldn’t have known about it.”
Morton shared the opportunity with Rainey because Elder House met the priorities outlined by the Women’s Foundation, including ownership by a woman of color in Union or 10 other counties.
In business more than 20 years, Rainey said she has long been affiliated with the SAU center. “I tell people about it all the time,” she said.
WFA plans to award a second round of grants to assist additional women-owned small businesses.
“After receiving almost 700 applications, we realize there is much more relief needed during this difficult time. We are committed to assist by providing resources and education to those women-owned small businesses we were unable to fund. We will also be announcing a second round of funding in the coming weeks,” said an April 17 Facebook post by the foundation.