Rebuild VA, a grant program to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, will expand eligibility criteria and increase the amount of grant money businesses receive.

The program started in August with $70 million in federal CARES Act funding. Gov. Ralph Northam is allocating an additional $30 million to expand Rebuild VA. Now, businesses with less than $10 million in gross revenue or fewer than 250 employees will be eligible under the new criteria and the maximum grant award will increase from $10,000 to $100,000.

The program is now open to all types of Virginia small businesses that meet the eligibility requirements. Businesses that previously received a Rebuild VA grant will receive a second award correlated with the updated guidelines.

Rebuild VA funding may be used for expenses such as payroll support, including paid sick leave; employee salaries, mortgage payments, rent and utilities; business loan payments; and personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies needed to address COVID-19.

“We started Rebuild VA to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Northam said in an Oct. 28 statement. “These changes to the program will ensure that we can provide additional financial assistance to even more Virginians so they can weather this public health crisis and emerge stronger.”

To submit an application or for additional information about Rebuild VA, visit governor.virginia.gov/RebuildVA.