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Small businesses, nonprofits may be eligible for county grants

Small Business Relief Program application period runs July 9-31

Posted 7/6/20

Small businesses and nonprofits experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be able to get some relief, thanks to Maricopa County grant program that opens this week.

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Small businesses, nonprofits may be eligible for county grants

Small Business Relief Program application period runs July 9-31

Posted

Small businesses and nonprofits experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be able to get some relief, thanks to a Maricopa County grant program that opens this week.

The Maricopa County Small Business Relief Program has $23 million in federal CARES Act funding to award up to $10,000 to qualifying small businesses and nonprofits as reimbursement for revenues lost in March and April, according to a county release.

“We know a lot of businesses would be going strong if not for the pandemic,” county Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman of District 4 stated. “What we have seen is unprecedented. The board hopes this money can keep businesses and non-profits afloat, so they can keep people working and money flowing in the local economy.”

The county partnered with the Arizona Community Foundation to administer the program. Grants will be provided on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted or the grant period closes, the release stated.

Applications will be accepted from Thursday, July 9 through Friday, July 31. Applicants will need to meet pre-qualification guidelines, answer a series of questions about their business or nonprofit and provide requested documentation, the release stated.

Businesses and nonprofits in cities across the county are eligible, with the exception of Phoenix and Mesa, since those cities also received significant CARES Act money and are operating similar programs.

To qualify, the applicant:

  • Must have been in operation in the county outside the cities of Phoenix or Mesa before Jan. 1, 2019;
  • Must not have received other COVID-related financial assistance including, but not limited to, Payroll Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan, SBA Express Bridge Loans and SBA Debt Relief;
  • Must have employed 25 or fewer full-time equivalents as of March 1, 2020;
  • Must not have generated more than $3 million in gross sales, or revenues in the case of non-profits, between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2019.
  • Must certify that gross sales or revenues declined by at least 25% as a result of COVID-19 in March and April 2020 compared to March and April 2019;
  • Business must meet required zoning and regulatory requirements and have proper zoning entitlements;
  • Must not have any active enforcement actions against them by Maricopa County or their respective city/town governments;
  • Must be in substantial compliance, meaning that the county or respective city/town has not taken any enforcement action authorized by law for any deficiencies; and
  • Must be in good standing with the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Businesses excluded from the program include:

  • Adult-oriented businesses;
  • Businesses engaged in the growth, harvest, storage, transport, distribution, use or otherwise providing cannabis for medical or recreational purposes; and
  • Businesses owned, in whole or part, by a Maricopa County official or employee who, in their official capacity, participates in the oversight, development or implementation of the Maricopa program.

For information about the Small Business Relief Program, including application materials and requirements, visit azfoundation.org/MaricopaRelief.

Questions can also be emailed to MaricopaRelief@azfoundation.org.