Updated 9/30/20 – Application portal  reopened on 10/2/20, deadline is 10/15/20

Contents

• Summary
• Purpose
• Applicant Eligibility
• Funding Criteria
• Allowable Costs
• Excluded Costs
• Acknowledgement of Federal Funds
• Program Timeline
• Application Process
• Application Portal

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)

Summary

The Small Business Relief Grant program was established by San Juan County Council to provide economic support to small businesses that were negatively impacted by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The program is administered by the Economic Development Council (EDC) on behalf of San Juan County and funded by the Local Government Coronavirus Relief Fund under the CARES Act.

Purpose

The purpose of the program is to address the critical needs of San Juan County small businesses by providing reimbursement for costs incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the period of March 1, 2020 thru August 31, 2020.

Applicant Eligibility

The Small Business Relief Grant program is available to for-profit small businesses whose primary place of business is in San Juan County, and to licensed childcare businesses and family resource centers in San Juan County. Applicants must:

1. Employ fewer than 10 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employees, including the business owner(s).
2. Have both an EIN / Federal ID number and a UBI number.  Businesses operating under only the owner’s Social Security number are not eligible.
3. Have been in operation for at least one year and in operation on March 13, 2020 when the San Juan County Council declared a state of emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Be currently operating in compliance with “Safe Start Washington” Business Guidance as directed by the Office of the Governor.
5. Have NOT already received assistance through a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation “Save Small Business” grant, WA State Department of Commerce “Working Washington Small Business Grant”, Town of Friday Harbor “Rental Assistance Grant” or “EDC-Valmark Back-to-Business Grant” program.
6. Be in good standing with all Federal, State, and local taxing authorities.

Funding Criteria

Awards will range from $1,000-$5,000 for reimbursement of allowable costs. Amounts awarded may be less than requested and will be determined by need and number of eligible applicants. Applicants may apply for only one Small Business Relief Grant award.

Funding will be awarded to eligible applicants by the Economic Development Council. Priority will be given to businesses who have had little or no access to relief for expenses incurred as a result of the public health emergency. Priority will be given to underserved businesses that:

• Have demonstrated negative impacts by closure
• Provide essential services and/or demonstrated record of community support
• Provide living wage jobs
• Have a solid financial track record demonstrating long-term viability
• Made a strong case that the funding will make a meaningful difference

Allowable Costs

1. Expenditures incurred due to business interruption caused by required closures, stay-at-home order, or during a period of economic difficulty due to decreased customer demand as a result of COVID-19.
   1. Rent and utility costs (e.g. electric, water) incurred in the business name.
   2. Mortgage interest paid to a separately owned business entity (but not mortgage principal)
   3. Expenditures to establish or improve online merchandise sales in response to loss of business during COVID-19
2. Expenses of actions to facilitate compliance with COVID-19 related public health measures such as:
   1. Expenses of maintaining brick and mortar small businesses in relation to increased sanitation and improvement of social distancing measures, to enable compliance with COVID-19 public health precautions.
   2. Examples include installation of barriers, purchase of masks, gloves, sanitation equipment, custodial materials, ventilation controls, or signage to communicate COVID- 19 requirements and re-open safely
3.  Expenses associated with asymptomatic testing of employees prior to return to work or for employees that have regular interaction with the general public.

Excluded Costs

1. Costs attributed to other grant funding sources including funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration Payroll Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs are strictly prohibited;
2. Payroll, Payroll Taxes, Benefits, Bonuses are excluded;
3. Taxes;
4. Legal Fees;
5. Owner salary or remuneration, distributions, dividends or reimbursement of any type;
6. Travel, meals, lodging, transportation;
7. Costs associated with lobbying or political influence;
8. Capitalized equipment, land acquisition, construction;
9. Principal portion of mortgage payments
10. Cost of Goods Sold, inventory, and operating supplies not directly incurred as a result of the public health emergency
11. Small businesses may not be reimbursed by multiple funders for the same expenses (double-dipping).

This listing is not intended to be a comprehensive list of costs. Eligible costs will ultimately be determined by the grantor in alignment with CARES Act funding guidance.

Acknowledgement of Federal Funds

This project was supported by a grant awarded by US Department of the Treasury. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the US Department of the Treasury. Grant funds are administered by the Local Government Coronavirus Relief Fund thru the Washington State Department of Commerce and San Juan County.

Total Federal Funding allocated for grants under this program is $149,150. Funds are subject to Section 601(a)of the Social Security Act, as amended by section 5001 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), and Title V of the CARES Act. CFDA 21.999

Program Timeline

• Sept 1 – Notice of Funding Availability Released
• Sept 1 – Sept 20 – Grant period open
• Sept 21- Sept 29 – Grant review
• Sept 30 – Recipient Notification of Awards from EDC
• October – Grant funding dispersed

REVISED DATES:

• Sept 1 – Notice of Funding Availability Released, reissued 10/1/20
• Sept 1 – Sept 20; Oct 1 – Oct 15 – Grant period open
• Oct 16 – 22 – Grant review
• Oct 27 – Recipient Notification of Awards from EDC
• November 5 – Grant funding dispersed

Contracts will be executed between EDC and the Small Business.

Application Process

Grant applications will be submitted to the EDC. Application forms and the application portal (below) will open September 1, 2020 reopen October 2, 2020.

To fill out the application form you will need to login to a Google account. If you have a Gmail or YouTube account, you already have a Google account; if not, you can create a Google account for free if you do not already have one: https://accounts.google.com/.

As part of your application you will need to upload the following documentation on the application form:

1. Expense documentation. Use this template: https://www.sanjuansedc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/1002020_Expense-Documentation-Template-2020Oct02_County.docx (links to MS Word document; the template can be opened and filled out with MS Word, LibreOffice, or Google Docs).
2. Certifications/affidavit required for eligibility: https://www.sanjuansedc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/100220_County_certifications_REV.pdf (links to PDF).
3. A W9 form, available here: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9
4. Your 2019 business income taxes

Application Portal – WILL REOPEN 10/2/20

Click HERE to begin your application.

Questions?  Please call or email us – we can help:  (360) 378-2906 or info@sanjuansedc.org