Unbelievable: Small Businesses Receive $5 Million Boost from Washington Grants!

Washington County Allocates $5 Million in Federal Funds to Help Small Businesses Recover from COVID-19

Washington County in Maryland has taken a step towards helping Small Businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The county has assigned $5 million of federal pandemic relief funds to implement the Small Business Impact Grants Program. Small businesses that reside in the county and have been impacted by the pandemic can now apply for grant awards of up to $25,000. The Washington County Department of Business and Economic Development will administer the program. The grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The grant period opened on June 5, 2023, at 8:00 am EST, until June 16, 2023, at 4:00 pm EST.

Washington County Steps up to Support Local Small Businesses

Washington County has recognized the importance of supporting Local Small Businesses who provide critical services and employment opportunities for residents. The county acknowledges the adverse impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on businesses in their community. This impact includes decreased revenue, financial insecurity, increased cost of doing business, decreased ability to overcome financial hardship, and challenges in covering operating costs such as payroll, rent, mortgage, and other operating costs.

Eligibility Requirements for Small Business Impact Grants

Eligible businesses include organizations that are independent, locally owned and controlled businesses or franchises, rent or lease a permanent physical location in Washington County, have 50 or fewer employees, and have a current Washington County business license if required. Moreover, the company must be in good standing with the government of Washington County, MD, the IRS, and the State of Maryland, with no outstanding taxes, fees, or other charges.

Businesses must demonstrate operating expenses or purchases through documentation and written narrative incurred due to COVID-19. Also, the company must be in one of the sectors, such as Agriculture or Agribusiness, Farm Brewery or Distillery, Vineyard Construction, Gasoline, Diesel, or Convenience Store Hospitality Manufacturing, Professional Services, Eg. Bookkeeping, Doctor/Dental office, Hair Salon, Groomer, etc., Retail Restaurant, Transportation, or Wholesale Trade. Businesses that do not meet the eligibility requirements include organizations that employ more than 50 employees, non-profit organizations, Real Estate Investment Trusts, any business whose primary taxing authority is not Washington County, MD, any business related to the cannabis industry and unable to bank at the federal level, multilevel marketing companies, and businesses located in communities of owners, unions, private, political or public foundations, fraternal organizations or social clubs, or churches and religious organizations.

Subsidy Amount and Funding Period

The maximum grant award is $25,000, and only one application can be submitted from each business entity. Completed applications will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Funds must be spent by August 1, 2024. If the number of requests exceeds the funds available, requests will be prioritized based on the application’s integrity, evidence of business need, applicant eligibility, and funding application.

How to Apply for Small Business Impact Grants

The performance period begins on June 5, 2023, at 8:00 am EST, for ten (10) business days and closes on June 16, 2023, at 4:00 pm EST. Applications will be accepted only by electronic submission. Applications deemed incomplete will be rejected. Once submitted, there may not be additional follow-up communication from the granting authority (Washington County Department of Business and Economic Development).

The applicant must provide a written or typed narrative describing the negative economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their business. Employees must demonstrate their operating expenses or purchases through documentation and written documentation. The applicant must submit a W-9 form with the application. The business must be established and in operation for at least 12 months at the time of application. Furthermore, businesses should provide a Unique Entity Identification Number (UEI), formerly known as a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or DUNS Number.

Conclusion

Washington County has taken a significant step in helping small businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The allocation of $5 million in federal pandemic relief funds to implement the Small Business Impact Grants Program will support small businesses that provide critical services and employment opportunities for residents. Eligible businesses can now apply for grant awards of up to $25,000, which will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis. The county emphasizes that facilities must be used to cover the operation costs, including payroll, rent, or utilities, or for technical assistance, advice, or support in business planning. The grant period opened on June 5, 2023, at 8:00 am EST, until June 16, 2023, at 4:00 pm EST. Therefore, eligible businesses should submit their applications as soon as possible.

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Washington County has designated $5 million in federal COVID-19 pandemic relief for Small Business Impact Grants.

Washington County has assigned $5 million of federal ARPA funds from the county to implement the small business impact grants. Through Small Business Impact Grant ProgramGrants of up to $25,000 will be awarded to county small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Washington County Department of Business and Economic Development will administer the program. Online, Washington County recounts the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses in the county and the importance of supporting them during the recovery from the pandemic:

Washington County recognizes the importance of supporting local small businesses that provide critical services, products, and employment opportunities for residents. The County further recognizes the adverse impact that the current COVID-19 pandemic has had on businesses in our community. This impact includes decreased revenue or gross income, financial insecurity, increased cost of doing business, decreased ability to overcome financial hardship, and challenges in covering operating costs such as payroll, rent, mortgage and other operating costs. costs

The Department has already opened the application for small business impact grants online. The grant period opened on June 5, 2023 at 8:00 am EST and will remain open until June 16, 2023 at 4:00 pm EST. Applications will be accepted only by electronic submission.

Completed applications will be processed and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. According to a Washington County news release, eligibility requirements, grant performance, use of funds and limitations apply.

Eligibility and Use of Grant Funds

Eligible businesses include organizations that:

• Is an independent, locally owned and controlled business or franchise,
• Owns, rents, or leases a permanent physical location in Washington County, MD,
• It has no more than 50 employees,
• Has a current Washington County business license, if required, and is in good standing with the government of Washington County, MD, the IRS, and the State of Maryland, with no outstanding taxes, fees, or other charges , and registered with the State,
• Obtain a Washington County Business License,
• Demonstrates operating expenses or purchases through documentation and written narrative incurred due to COVID-19, and
• The company is in one of the following industry sectors:
  • Agriculture / Agribusiness / Farm
  • Brewery / Distillery / Vineyard
  • Construction
  • Gasoline/Diesel/Convenience Store
  • Hospitality
  • Manufacturing
  • Professional services, eg bookkeeping, doctor/dental office, hair salon, groomer, etc.
  • Retail
  • Restaurant
  • Transportation
  • wholesale trade

Businesses are not eligible for financing if:

• The company employs more than 50 employees,
• It is a non-profit organization
• It is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REITS),
• Any business whose primary taxing authority is not Washington County, MD,
• Any business related to the cannabis industry and unable to bank at the federal level,
• Multilevel marketing companies, and/or

The business is located in one or more of the following:

• Communities of owners,
• unions,
• Private, political or public foundations,
• Fraternal organizations or social clubs, or
• Churches and religious organizations.

Amount of the award and period of execution of the subsidy

• The maximum grant award is $25,000 and only one application can be submitted from each business entity.
  • Complete applications will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Funds must be spent by August 1, 2024.
  • If the number of requests exceeds the funds available, requests will be prioritized based on the following:
    • Application integrity
    • Evidence of business need, including written narrative
    • Applicant Eligibility and Funding Application
  • The performance period begins on June 5, 2023 at 8:00 am EST for ten (10) business days and closes on June 16, 2023 at 4:00 pm EST.
  • Applications will only be accepted by electronic submission (paper or hand-delivered applications will not be accepted).
  • Applications deemed incomplete will be rejected. The applicant assumes full responsibility for the integrity of their application.
    • On behalf of the Government of Washington County, MD, the Washington County Department of Business and Economic Development reserves the right to request clarification or additional information as necessary during the application review.
    • Once submitted, there may not be additional follow-up communication from the granting authority (Washington County Department of Business and Economic Development).
  • A written or typed narrative is required, along with documents demonstrating the negative economic impact of the aforementioned COVID-19 pandemic.
  • A W-9 form must be submitted with the application.
  • Businesses must be established and in operation for at least 12 months at the time of application.
    • Businesses that do not meet the above deadline can still apply for financing, however, the applicant must submit a business plan in addition to all other documentation.
  • Businesses must provide a Unique Entity Identification Number (UEI), formerly known as a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or DUNS Number.
    • For more information on the UEI, visit sam.gov (an official US government website).
  • Federal, state, and local governments reserve the right to audit all funds distributed under this grant program for up to five (5) years. The applicant must retain receipts for the entire five (5) year period from the date of issue.
  • The Washington County, MD, government will issue a 1099 form after the grant is disbursed and the grant may be taxable based on state and federal tax guidelines for that year. Consult your tax advisor for additional information.

Grant funds can be used for:

• Payroll or benefits support,
• cost of retaining employees
• Mortgage or rent,
• utilities,
• Technical assistance,
• Advice,
• Support in business planning, and/or
• Other operating costs

For questions about the Small Business Impact Grant program or eligibility, applicants may contact Impact@WashCo-MD.net.

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Washington Allocates $5 M to Small Business Impact Grants

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