The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact nearly every aspect of business, and that includes the licensing industry.
This month, Licensing International launched a program to help small, brand licensing businesses that are struggling as a result of COVID-19. The Small Business Global Grants Fund will provide $5,000 grants (in local currency) to as many small employers as possible around the world.
Companies in the brand licensing industry that employ between three and 20 people can apply for the grants. Applicants will need to submit a short narrative explaining the impact of COVID-19 on their business and the steps they have taken — or plan to take — to mitigate that impact. Companies will also need to supply financial statements from last year and the corresponding months in this year to show year-over-year impact.
Applications are available now at licensinginternational.com, and the deadline to apply is Sept. 15.
Companies that are interested in contributing funds to be used for grants can do so in two ways. They can purchase an ad in the program for this year’s Licensing International Excellence awards (which will take place virtually on Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. ET) or make a direct donation to the Global Grants fund.
“Our hope is that these supplemental funds will give businesses in need a boost to get through the next days and weeks so that the licensing community as a whole emerges from this global crisis stronger and even more united,” says Maura Regan, president of Licensing International.
