VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – A lot of people and local businesses have been hit hard by COVID-19, and trying to navigate how to get back on your feet can be tough.

That’s why Virginia Beach Councilwoman Sabrina Wooten has been holding a virtual “business recovery” series to connect small businesses owners with local resources

ReboundPossible solutions for millions struggling to find health insurance amid pandemicElected leaders and experts weighed in over the course of a few weeks. On Saturday, they started out the conversation by pointing out the importance of using your city’s economic development department.

Cities like Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Hampton are giving out grant money to people, even as much as $10,000. All you have to do is contact the department for more information and apply.

There’s also the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center. The organization helps with anything from marketing to funding.

It’s free and you can sign up for one-on-one meetings.

President Co-founder of Black BRAND, Blair Durham, said don’t get discouraged if you have applied but still don’t have the answers.

“PPP regulations have changed, so those that may not have been eligible at one point – they find themselves now eligible. So it’s very important to just reapply because again, the funding is still available and the program regulations are changing. They’re actually responding to our needs and so not only when I say reapply I would also encourage contacting individuals like yourself to say ‘these are the challenges that I’m having so that that information can be sent up right? And again, we see the changes happening,” Durham said.

For additional help you can call the small business hotline at 757-364-7632.