CARES Small Business Grant – Greenwich, Huron County Ohio

GREENWICH SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM

Greenwich has created The Greenwich Small Business Grant Program to provide financial assistance to small businesses that have sustained economic hardships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Eligible entities can receive grants in the amount of $2,500; $5,000; or $10,000.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Must be a for-profit or not-for-profit business entity located in Greenwich and in operation prior to February 15, 2020. Sole Proprietorships are eligible to apply for grant funds.
• Business must have been impacted by the State-mandated closures that began March 15, 2020 due to COVID-19. Impacts must include decline in gross revenue/receipts of 30% or more since March 15, 2020 as a result of COVID.
• Annual gross receipts of the business must be less than $2,000,000.
• Business’ full-time equivalent employment level as of March 15, 2020 and September 18^th will be taken into consideration in scoring the grant application.
• A business that has received federal assistance due to COVID including but not limited to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), can apply for a grant through the GREENWICH Small Business Grant Program; HOWEVER, requested funds CANNOT be used for the same expenses that the business previously received federal funding assistance.  If business is applying for a local community COVID grant, they may still apply for the county grant; however, requested funds CANNOT be used for the same expenses that the business received local grant funds to cover.
• Businesses must be in good standing with all federal, state, county, and local taxes and fees.

ELIGIBLE ASSISTANCE

If the applicant has experienced expenses DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, the following may be eligible for grant assistance:

• Lease or Mortgage Assistance: If the applicant applies for lease or mortgage assistance, documentation of a lease or commercial mortgage with the monthly amount due must be provided by the applicant.
• Operational Expenses Assistance: Examples of operational expenses related to COVID-19 include, but are not limited to: advertising and marketing, supplies, maintenance and repairs, payroll, and utilities.  Documentation of expenses is required.
• Unforeseen Expenses: Examples of unforeseen expenses related to COVID-19 include, but are not limited to:  the cost of conversion of products or services to meet the ODH health and safety requirements, development of new solutions to problems presented during the COVID-19 crisis, and the purchase of safety supplies such as masks, hand sanitizer, safety barriers, signage, and items to enforce physical distancing.  Documentation of expenses is required.

INELIGIBLE SMALL BUSINESSES

A business is not eligible to apply for grant funds from the GREENWICH SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM if it primarily operates as one of the following:

Bank, savings & loan or credit union

E-commerce only company

Primary alcohol sales (carry outs/convenience stores)

Vaping store

Tobacco store

Cannabis dispensary

Tattoo Parlor

Sexually oriented business

Places of Worship

Franchised business not locally owned and independently operated

INELIGIBLE EXPENSES

• Cost of vehicle or equipment leased or purchased after March 23, 2020, except if the purchase of equipment is to comply with Responsible RestartOhio.
• Personal, non-business expenses of the business or its owner(s).
• Construction costs.
• Any tax, license, or fee obligations payable to any governmental entity.

APPLICATION PROCESS & NOTIFICATION OF AWARD

Applicants are required to complete the on-line application and provide supporting documentation.  The grant application is available CLICK HERE – Grant applications will be accepted starting August 24, 2020 and must be submitted by 4:00 PM September 18, 2020.  All applications will be reviewed by the Grant Committee.  Grants will be awarded until the grant funding is exhausted.  Please have all supporting documents, including financial statements which show the revenue loss due to COVID, utility bills, mortgage statements, etc., available to upload as part of the application.  Prior to the final approval of a grant application, additional information or documentation may be requested.  If unable to complete the on-line application, applications can be emailed to meyer.j@villageofgreenwich.com or dropped off at the Greenwich Municipal Office, 45 Main St, Greenwich, Ohio  44837 during regular business hours (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM).  Due to the short application period, we do not recommend mailing the application and encourage online and email submissions.

All applicants will be notified of the status of their grant request.  If approved, the grant recipient will receive an agreement that needs to be executed within seven (7) calendar days.  Grant funds will be sent by check from the Greenwich Fiscal Office.

GRANT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Grant recipients are required to submit a final closeout report documenting the use of grant funds received.  Documents must include an itemized list of expenditures along with proof of payment of eligible expenses.

Failure to submit a closeout report and provide documentation that grant funds were applied to eligible expenses will result in the recipient being required to repay the grant funds received.

Grant Review Criteria

A Grant Review Committee will review each application and determine recipients of the grant funds.  To be awarded funding, applications will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Determined to have filed a complete application including required documentation. (5 points)
• Determined to be a qualifying business and meets the established guidelines and rules. (5 points)
• Substantiated the most critical need for grant assistance based on loss of revenue and/or loss of employees. (Up to 10 points)
  • 10 points – 25 or fewer employees
  • 5 points – 26-50 employees
  • 3 points – 51-100 employees
• Determined that the awarded grant will have a direct impact on sustaining the company. (10 points)
• Demonstrated economic and community benefits the business creates for Greenwich. (5 points)
• Amount of other financial assistance received by applicant from other COVID-19 financial assistance programs. (5 points)
• Any other criteria as determined by the committee.

Questions regarding the Greenwich COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program can be directed to the Greenwich Small Business grant committee at 419-752-2441 or via email at meyer.j@villageofgreenwich.com.

August 19, 2020

APPLICATION: CLICK HERE