WAYNE COUNTY COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM

Attention Small Business Owners who DID NOT RECEIVE any CaresAct funding. You may be eligible for the Wayne County COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Relief Grant Program. Deadline to apply is Aug 10. Funds will be distributed first come, first serve.

 

CRITERIA FOR SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS

Must have physical address in Wayne County and grant funding is to be used for that location

Must have 25 or fewer employees

Must be a for-profit entity

Must have a Federal Taxpayer Identification Number

Must have experienced a decrease in gross revenue/receipts of 35% or more due to COVID-19 when comparing March 1 – May 31, 2020 to March 1 – May 31, 2019

Must have less than $1 million in gross revenue/receipts on an annual basis

Must not have received or been approved for other federal assistance for lost revenue or expenses arising from the pandemic including Paycheck Protection Program, Emergency Disaster Loan

Must be able to attest that it is in compliance with federal, state, or county and local regulations and not delinquent in any taxes

Must be able to attest that it is not currently in bankruptcy

INELIGIBLE SMALL BUSSINESSES

Adult entertainment establishment

Bank, savings and loan or credit union

E-commerce only company

Liquor/wine store

Vaping store

Tobacco store

Cannabis dispensary

Franchised business not locally owned and independently operated

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES

Grant funds provided by Wayne County’s Small Business Relief Program can only be used to pay the expenses of the business related to the costs of business interruption and/or required closure caused by the pandemic up to a maximum of $5,000. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to:

Mortgage Costs. Mortgage costs for businesses that are located in or operated out of a personal residence are not an eligible expense

Rent or Lease Costs. Rent or lease costs for businesses that are located in or operated out of a personal residence are not an eligible expense.

Expenses for utilities, such as electric, gas, sewer, water, trash removal. Utility costs for businesses that are located in or operated out of persona residence are not an eligible expense.

Salaries, wages or compensation paid to employees or 1099 workers.

Materials and supplies related to interruption of the business caused by required closures.

Personal Protective Equipment or other COVID-19 related costs such as expenses related to compliance with Responsible Restart Ohio.

Sole proprietors can use grant funding as income replacement by providing documentation on lost revenue from March 1 through May 31, 2020 due to COVID-19 so long as no unemployment benefits are being received or are expected to be received by the Applicant. If not already submitted, upload the most recent filed Schedule C – Profit or Loss from Business (Sole Proprietorship)

Grant funds can be used to reimburse eligible expenses incurred from March 1, 2020. The business shall submit an itemized list of all expenditures along with all supporting documentation. Documentation shall be in the form of paid invoices and cancelled checks, bank statements or similar documentation showing payment of Eligible Expenses. If the business cannot properly substantiate its eligible expenses, the business will be considered to be non-eligible for the Small Business Grant.

INELIGIBLE EXPENSES

Cost of vehicle or equipment leased or purchased after March 23, 2020, except if the purchase of equipment is to comply with Restart Ohio.

Personal non-business expenses of the business or its owner(s)

Construction costs

Any tax, license or fee obligations payable to any governmental entity

PROCESS

      1. Application

A business that is interested in participating in the program must fill out the application to determine if it meets all of the eligibility criteria set forth above.

      2. Funds Available

Grants are funded on a first come, first served basis until all available funds have been allocated. The date used for this determination will be the date and time the application is received by the Wayne Economic Development Council.

     3. Payment and Signed Agreement

If approved for a grant, the business must sign and return the Grant Agreement within 10 calendar days of receipt and provide its bank routing number for grant fund payment.