June 11, 2020
Small Business Grants Announced for Businesses in Unincorporated Boulder County
Boulder County received requests for financial support totaling six times the amount of funding available
Boulder County, Colo. -- The Boulder County Board of County Commissioners has announced grant awards to 34 small business in unincorporated Boulder County that have been impacted by coronavirus and the related public health orders in place to protect our community’s health and save lives.
The commissioners recognize the critical role played by small businesses throughout Boulder County in the community’s overall economic health and well-being. Local small businesses make sizable contributions to their communities in myriad ways, including:
- Providing jobs to generate and maintain local employment opportunities;
- Promoting a unique community identity, character, and charm; and
- Building a sense of community connectedness, social health, and well-being through business practices built around interpersonal relationships.
Boulder County received requests for financial support totaling six times the amount of funding available, leading to a competitive and objective selection process. The awarded small businesses are businesses with 50 employees or less and are located throughout unincorporated Boulder County, Jamestown, and Ward including - Niwot, Allenspark, and other unincorporated areas surrounding cities and towns within the county. The businesses represent various sectors from service, retail, food retail, and agriculture - and all are in good standing with the state of Colorado and Boulder County.
Awarded funding will be utilized to cover pandemic-related costs associated with:
- Rent/mortgage/capital expenses to make improvements related to social distancing;
- Rent/utilities required to resume or continue business activity;
- Personal protective equipment, cleaning, and sanitation supplies;
- Payroll costs, but only if a business was unsuccessful in securing funding from the Paycheck Protection Program or Economic Injury Disaster Loans;
- Urgently needed equipment repair/replacement required to resume or continue business activity;
- Supplies that support business activity adjustments during the COVID-19 response period;
- Marketing/PR/communications needs to address business activity adjustments during the COVID-19 response period;
- Telcom/internet connectivity to facilitate business activity during the COVID-19 response period; or
- Business licenses, permits, or other fees required to resume or continue business activity.
Applications for grant funding were evaluated utilizing criteria that included: severity of impact of COVID-19 on the business, how the business is supporting employees during the pandemic, local ownership, and the sustainability plan for moving forward during these challenging times. A diverse group of leaders from the Boulder County community and Boulder County staff with expertise in business and financial review evaluated applications and selected awardees.
“We are pleased to be able to respond to small business needs along with individual and family needs during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Commissioner Matt Jones. “Small businesses are a very important component of our economic vitality providing employment, unique services and goods, and character to our communities.”
For more small business information and support, including additional opportunities for financial support, business owners should check out the Boulder Small Business Development Center including weekly webinars and direct one-on-one advising services. More information is available at https://bouldersbdc.com/, by email at admin@bouldersbdc.com, or by calling 303-442-1475.
For any questions regarding current rules or regulations to protect health and life while re-opening or operating a business, please contact Boulder County Public Health or call the county Call Center - open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. - at 720-776-0822.
More information about the grant funded businesses can be found at www.boco.org/EmergencyReliefGrant. For questions about the program, contact economicrecovery@bouldercounty.org.
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