Trellus launches $2,500 grants for Suffolk small businesses

A new Trellus grant program opened Tuesday, Jan. 13, providing local small businesses in Suffolk County with up to $2,500 to cover delivery and marketing services. The effort, funded with ARPA resources and administered in partnership with the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC), is intended to help businesses recover and stabilize after pandemic-era disruptions.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis while funds remain available, so county business owners are being urged to act quickly. To qualify, applicants must be for-profit businesses physically located in Suffolk County and must demonstrate how the award will support recovery, stability or growth. Organizers emphasize outreach to historically underserved businesses, seeking to reach owners who have had less access to conventional relief programs.

The grant is explicitly targeted at delivery and marketing expenses, a category that has grown central to local commerce as consumer behavior shifted toward online ordering and home delivery. For many restaurants, retailers and service providers across communities from Patchogue to the East End, small grants like this can offset platform fees, pay for branded packaging, cover targeted digital ads, or help extend last-mile delivery options that directly affect sales volumes and margins.

From a policy standpoint, the program reflects a broader trend in Suffolk and across municipalities of using ARPA dollars not only for infrastructure and direct relief but also for targeted microgrants to spur small business resilience. These microgrants complement existing loan and tax programs by providing quick, flexible capital for operational needs that banks and traditional lenders may not prioritize.

For local markets, even modest injections can have outsized effects. A $2,500 investment in digital marketing and delivery logistics can increase order frequency, improve customer retention and reduce the friction that pushes shoppers to larger regional chains. For historically underserved firms, access to these funds can level the playing field just enough to sustain staffing, pay vendors, and keep storefronts open.

Owners interested in applying should prepare documentation showing business location and a concise plan for how the funds will be used to advance recovery, stability or growth. Applications are submitted via the Trellus / LIAACC application page and will be processed while funds last.

Our two cents? Move fast and be specific: a clear use case and quick receipts can turn a $2,500 grant into a durable boost for your Main Street presence.