Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Roanoke County recently announced $115,000 in grant awards to 13 businesses through the Economic Development Authority (EDA) Business Equipment Acquisition Program (BEAP) Grant. The funds will help businesses acquire new capital to grow their operations.
“Our local businesses are integral to Roanoke County,” said EDA Chair Woody Windley. “These grants demonstrate the County’s support of many different types of companies in our community and their continued growth.”
The BEAP program was established in fiscal year 2025 (July 4, 2024-June 30, 2025) as a pilot program to help support existing businesses in Roanoke County and the Town of Vinton. The total grant award per business was up to 50% of capital acquisition costs, with a cap of $20,000 per award. Applicants were scored on several criteria including locally owned, total employees, engagement with resource partners, impact on the business, and utilization of local suppliers.
Among the grant recipients for Fiscal Year 2025 is Ride Source, LLC, which offers the McAfee Knob Shuttle out of Salem.
