photo by: Mike Yoder/Journal-World File Photo

The 800 block of Massachusetts Street is pictured on Nov. 17, 2015.

Lawrence and Douglas County businesses can now apply for a grant to help them recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Ogden Newspapers Inc., the parent company of the Journal-World, has established a $1 million fund to help local businesses get back to full strength by subsidizing local marketing efforts through matching advertising dollars.

“We know businesses and workers here are hurting; we’re hurting, too,” Allison Tait, director of advertising and marketing for the Journal-World, said. “But if we can pull together as a community, we can weather this. Here at the Journal-World we want to do everything we can to help everyone get through the pandemic and get back to work. With these matching grants, we can help local businesses tell their story as they rebuild.”

Businesses operating in the Lawrence and Douglas County markets can apply for a grant of up to $15,000 today at ogdennews.com/community-grant. Applicants will receive a response to their application within one to two business days.

The fund is open to all locally owned and operated businesses impacted by the coronavirus, Tait said, whether or not they are current Journal-World advertisers. Grant money can be used for local print and online advertising in the Journal-World and on ljworld.com between April 1 and June 30, 2020. 

The grant program comes at a time when community leaders are reminding residents of the importance of shopping locally and supporting local firms.

“Now more than ever, it is important to support businesses located in Lawrence and Douglas County,” Bonnie Lowe, president and CEO of The Chamber, said. ” We must come together to honor our friends and neighbors as we maneuver the current economic challenges as a compassionate and caring community.  We will become stronger while leaning on each other.”

“A community newspaper is only as strong as the community it serves,” said Robert Nutting, CEO of Ogden Newspapers. “As a family-owned business operating for almost 130 years, we have learned that the only way to pull through the hard times is to stand with your partners and customers. We are proud to offer this assistance to the local businesses that form the backbone of the communities where we publish.”

For more information and to apply, visit ogdennews.com/community-grant

Ogden Newspapers operates more than 40 daily newspapers across the country, plus a number of weekly newspapers and a magazine division.