COVID-19 Business Assistance Grant Program

Deadline: 2-Sep-21

The County of Ventura is inviting applications for the COVID-19 Business Assistance Grant Program to assist businesses and nonprofits (Organizations) that did not receive a grant during any of the previous grant programs.

Priorities

If the program has more eligible applicants than funding, priority will be given to the following businesses:

Women-owned businesses;
Minority/person of color-owned businesses;
Veteran-owned business;
Businesses located in low-to-moderate-income communities;
Businesses with employees.

Funding Information

The goal is to distribute relief to qualified applicants through $10,000 grants.

Eligibility Criteria

Organizations (both business and nonprofit) must satisfy the following criteria to be considered as eligible:
- Must have not received a County of Ventura Business Assistance Grant (Covid-19) in any of the previous programs (prior grant recipients are not eligible to apply).
- Must be negatively impacted by COVID-19.
- Must have a physical address and operate in Ventura County.
- Nonprofit must submit IRS nonprofit determination letter.
- Primary operations cannot be lobbying (50% or more).
- Must be currently open and operating
- Business must have an active business license in Ventura County.
- Must have been in business prior to 2021.
- Organizations with multiple entities, franchises, locations, etc. may not submit multiple applications (to any of the Business Grant Programs); a single application must be submitted, using the annual gross revenue figure for that entity, franchise, location, etc. with the highest revenue. If an individual previously received a grant for one business, that individual cannot apply with another business.
- Business may submit only one application, regardless of the number of owners of the business.
- Annual gross revenue must be between $25,000 and $2.5 million.
- Must have a history of compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols.
- Nonprofit must be qualified as exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), or 501(c)(19).
- Must attest that its business is not an ineligible business type.
- Must acknowledge that its information is subject to the Public Records Act and agree to spend the grant award on only eligible uses of funds.
- Churches and other faith-based institutions may apply.
To be eligible, applicants must provide the following documents:
- Government-issued photo ID of the business owner or nonprofit authorized agent on the grant application.
- Tax returns and attachments filed in 2019 OR 2020 or Form 990 for nonprofit organizations.
- Proof of physical address within Ventura County (acceptable documents may include business license, billing invoice with the name of the business, State licenses or CA Secretary of State filings, or fictitious business name statement).
- IRS Form W-9 signed and dated
- Nonprofit Organizations: IRS nonprofit determination letter.