Gary mayor announces Lifeline Grant offering up to $25,000 per small business

Mayor Eddie Melton announced a new Lifeline Grant that will provide small businesses in the city of Gary with awards of up to $25,000 each, saying the program is intended to help businesses that "have been struggling uh for quite some time." He thanked the Gary Common Council and the Hard Rock Casino for matching the grant funds and urged eligible business owners to apply.

Melton said, "This grant is going to help small businesses that have been struggling uh for quite some time. I want to thank the Gary Common Council. I also want to thank the Hard Rock Casino for matching these dollars. We're going to be giving up to $25,000 to our small businesses that are located in the city of Gary." He directed applicants to the city's economic development department and to the city website for details and the application form.

The city announced the application window is already open and will close on June 1, 2026. The mayor repeated the web address for details and applications as www.gary.gov/lifeline-grant and encouraged business owners with questions to contact the economic development department. The announcement did not specify total program funding, eligibility criteria beyond geographic location in Gary, or the selection process.

The Lifeline Grant is presented as a locally administered, time-limited aid program with matching support from a private partner. City staff will presumably publish eligibility rules, application materials and timelines on the web page Melton cited; those materials were not part of the recorded message.