Is your small business impacted by the COVID-19 situation? The new Daviess County Small Business Relief Program is now taking applications through June 12, according to Bryant Niehoff, executive director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC). Qualified grant recipients do not have to pay back the grant if conditions are met.
“This new grant can make available up to $5,000 per small business in Daviess County, but small business owners need to act quickly to complete the application and supporting forms,” said Niehoff. “Assistance is available if those applying for the grant have questions.”
Eligible businesses may request up to $5,000 in funding. The deadline for online applications Friday, June 12 by 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). To apply for funding, two steps must be completed: a formal application must be completed and submitted online and an intake form for every employee in the business must be completed and sent to SIDC. All applications must be completed and received by close of business (5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time) to be considered, Niehoff emphasized.
Made possible by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), the Daviess County program is intended to provide working capital to Daviess County businesses, assist businesses to remain operational during the COVID-19 economic downturn, and support remote work for businesses that are following the Governor’s Back on Track Indiana Plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Administrators and staff at both OCRA and the state had to quickly shift priorities and programs to make this relief program and the critical funds available, and we are grateful for their collective efforts to develop and launch this important program quickly,” Niehoff said.
Applicants must be a for-profit, established business in Daviess County with 30 employees or less (excluding franchisees). Must be able to demonstrate that funds will be used to retain jobs of which a majority are held or available to Low- to Moderate-Income individuals; and that funds will be used for working capital, operational expenses, and/or to support remote work for businesses during the COVID-19 economic downturn.
Grant conditions include the fact that funds must be used to retain permanent jobs of which at least 51% are held or would be made available to LMI (Low- and Moderate-income Persons or Households) persons.
Online forms – both the application and the required COVID-19 Assistance Intake Form are available online at www.dcedc.net (and also www.developdaviess.com).
After the online application is completed, applicants should download the COVID-19 Assistance Intake Form and complete as necessary. As stated in the application form, applicants will need to fill out an intake form for every retained employee. Completed intake forms should be emailed to staff@sidc.cc.
“Some may ask, ‘what happens to my application and how is it reviewed?’” said Niehoff. “After the June 12 deadline, applications will be reviewed by an Advisory Review Committee consisting of representatives from the Daviess County Commissioners, the County Council, the Daviess County EDC, and the Daviess County Chamber & Visitors Bureau. Recommendations will then be made to OCRA who will determine final eligibility.”
If funds remain after the first round of applications, subsequent rounds will be opened up until the funding is exhausted, Niehoff added.
“Please remember that completed intake forms must be submitted for every employee in the applying business for the application to be considered,” the executive director noted.
Questions may be directed to Rhonda Rumble at rhonda@sidc.cc or Bryant Niehoff at bniehoff@dcedc.net
“This is an exciting program that can provide needed funds, so we strongly encourage everyone not to wait, as the application deadline for all completed materials is Friday, June 12 by 5 p.m. EDT,” the executive director emphasized.