PANAMA CITY – Small business owners injured by the COVID-19 pandemic can now get the federal CARES Act in cash.
Bay County generates $5 million for businesses and nonprofits. The purpose of the Bay County Commission is to raise cash for companies in difficulty since the implementation of the CARES Act.
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The baycountycares. com website, launched at noon Wednesday, is where commercial homeowners and associations can apply for grants.
Some companies would likely be eligible for more than one grant. Some grants pay up to $20,000 and $25,000, while others pay up to $2,000. Integrity Group helps the county review applications.
“Small businesses are the backbone of this community. We’ve been very lucky through this pandemic of continuing through some business transactions, thanks to the leadership of our governor,” said Philip Griffitts, president of the County Commission.
“But it is clear that some corporations have suffered. There are some corporations that have large expenses with cleaning techniques or other protocols that they have had to do in the past. “
When CARES cash was first made, it was for municipalities that had COVID-19 expenses, and the county tried to help small businesses that were affected. Device (PPE). There are also income loss subsidies.
Businesses and non-profit organizations can apply for five of the grants: the small business micro-enterprise grant, the small business financial aid grant, the small business renewal/adaptation grant, the SMALL Business PPE grant, and the benefit-free/non-benefit program.
Several criteria must be met before companies and non-profit organizations can be approved for money.
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“The county has approved a solution that primarily points to eligibility needs for each of the grants, and each of the grants is a small one for eligibility needs,” said Jeremy Tidwell, leading data officer at The Integrity Group. “The verification procedure is simple. Some grants are lump sums and others are expense reimbursements. “
Among the requirements, corporations must have been in business since March 1. They must also be registered with Sunbiz or the county to make sure they work in Bay County. For subsidies that help alleviate the economy, corporations will need to file documents on the loss of income source due to the pandemic, adding monetary statements from the next two years.
The online page portal is based on the first-in-arrival precept, first to be served and will close on December 11. Cash under the CARES Act will have to be spent until the end of December, or the county will lose it.