Small businesses can apply for COVID 19 funding for rental assistance, cleaning supplies

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors recently authorized a $3.289 million relief program for local small businesses that are affected by COVID-19 and have had their reopening plans approved by the county, and funding is now available. Small businesses can apply on the county’s website for grants ranging from $500 to $12,500 per business.

You can submit your application beginning Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 8 am. However, you can begin reviewing the application now and gather all the necessary documentation in order to be ready when the application period begins.

The County of Humboldt Small Business Restart & Recovery Grant Program (SBRR) will provide direct aid to independent, local for-profit businesses that have suffered financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. The funding will be made available on a first-come-first-served basis, so it is essential that businesses submit quickly.

There are two grant programs. The Restart Grant provides up to $500 for expenses related to drafting/submitting their business reopening plan. This grant is available only to those who have had their reopening plans certified and approved by the county. The Recovery Grant provides up to $12,000 to assist with COVID-19 related expenses, as detailed below:

Eligible Expenditures

Procurement and/or care of personal protective equipment (PPE) for employees and/or customers.Rental assistance for those periods during which a business may have been closed or whose operation was dramatically limited while closures on businesses and Shelter In Place orders were in effect.Expenses related to eviction prevention and landlord/tenant mediation and arbitration.

Funding for improvements, equipment, or operational changes for complying with quarantining and social distancing orders.

Cleaning supplies and/or professional disinfection services to meet Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for COVID-19 viral mitigation and prevention.Wages for the hiring and/or training of staff substantially dedicated to COVID-19 preparedness, mitigation, and response.Other measurable and verifiable expenditures directly related to operational hardships resulting from COVID-19 and/or for hardships incurred for a business to comply with orders from the Public Health Officer.

Applicants must be a for-profit business whose business was or has closed, or whose operations were or are adversely impacted by COVID-19, and must meet additional criteria as detailed in the application materials.

The SBRR program will expire on Dec. 30, 2020 or until funding has been exhausted, unless otherwise extended through federal legislation.. Funding for this program is made available through the US Treasury’s Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

Questions regarding any part of this NOFA can be directed to the Humboldt County Administrative Office - Economic Development Team at 707-445-7745 or via email at gohumco@co.humboldt.ca.us.