Grant Program Description
Eligibility
- The business must operate or primarily conduct business in unincorporated Boulder County, which includes Niwot and Eldorado Springs. Businesses in the towns of Jamestown and Ward are also eligible.
- The business was in operation as of March 10, 2020 (the date of the Colorado emergency declaration).
- Business is “current” on all accounts with the county and state.
- Business employed 50 or fewer employees as of March 10, 2020.
- The business is for-profit. Non-profit organizations may be eligible funds from:
- Publicly traded entities are not eligible
- Marijuana industry businesses are not eligible, because grant funding comes from federal CARES Act
- No duplication of benefits is allowed. That is, expenses submitted for grant consideration CANNOT have been submitted for, or reimbursed by, another grant or aid program (e.g., Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program, etc.)
- Must complete the full application by the Noon, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020 deadline. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered.
Small Business Relief Fund Allowable Expenses:
- Rent, mortgage, utilities required to resume or continue business activity, when revenue is insufficient to cover these expenses
- Expenses from March 10 to Oct. 15, 2020 to make temporary facility modifications related to social distancing or otherwise to comply with public health orders
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning and sanitation supplies
- Payroll costs required to resume or continue business activity, when revenue is insufficient to cover these expenses
- Urgently needed equipment repair/replacement required to resume or continue business activity and necessary due to the COVID-19 public health emergency
- Supplies that support business activity adjustments during the COVID-19 response period that are needed due to the COVID-19 public health emergency
- Marketing, public relations, and/or communications needs to address business activity adjustments during the COVID-19 response period and due to COVID-19 public health emergency
- Telecom/internet connectivity due to COVID-19 to facilitate business activity during the COVID-19 response period
- Business licenses, permits, or other fees required due to the COVID-19 public health emergency to resume or continue business activity
- Delivery services when in-person provision of services or goods has been reduced due to the pandemic
- Professional services such as legal, administration, marketing, or other technical assistance needed due to the COVID-19 public health emergency
- Lost revenue due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, as demonstrated in monthly financial statements from 2020 and 2019 showing decreased revenue amounts from the same month(s) in 2020 compared to 2019
Required Information for Application
- Business license number and federal EIN or tax ID number
- Modest amount of financial information
- Information regarding access to and receipt of other recovery-related funding such as the federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and other loan and grant programs
Information provided on applications will be used for the county’s grant program purposes only.
Selection Details
An advisory committee will be appointed by the Boulder County Board of County Commissioners to oversee this funding process. Grant funding will be evaluated based on applicant need and clear indication of COVID-19 impact to the business. Incomplete applications, or applications submitted after the 11:59 p.m., Monday, Oct. 21 deadline will not be considered.
Grant awards will be determined at the discretion of the county and are subject to funding availability. Submission of an application is no assurance that the grant will be awarded, in whole or in part. Receipt of funds under this grant program, if and as awarded, may impact the amount of other funding offered or awarded by other entities. The applicant assumes such risk. In accordance with federal guidance, businesses that are awarded grants under this program should consider the awards taxable income, and there may be additional federal reporting requirements regarding the use of awarded funds.
For additional support for small businesses from the federal and state government and from other sources, please visit the Boulder Small Business Development Center and Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
Round 1 Information
On May 29, the Board of County Commissioners approved 34 awardees for the Boulder County COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant. The program received 121 eligible applications and requests totaling $1.2 million. To be eligible for award consideration, businesses had to meet three eligibility criteria – completed application with W-9 Form by the May 18 deadline; must be located in unincorporated Boulder County; must be in good standing with county and state of Colorado.
