COVID-19 Small Business & Nonprofit Relief Fund Grant

Deadline: 19-Aug-20

The Calvert County COVID-19 Small Business & Nonprofit Relief Fund Grant provides limited financial relief to local businesses that have experienced significant economic hardship or unusual expenses because of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Both for-profit small businesses with commercial locations in Calvert County and nonprofit organizations serving Calvert County are eligible. The grant may be used for expenditures related to business interruption or unusual expenses incurred due to the public health emergency. Repayment is not required for any funds received through the grant program.

Funding Information

Grants will be awarded in the following categories and amounts:

Small Business Relief Fund
- Sole Proprietor: $1,500
- Micro Business (1-15 employees): $5,000
- Small Business (16-50 employees): $7,000
Nonprofit Relief Fund
- Grassroots Nonprofit: $1,500
- Small Nonprofit: $5,000
- Mid-Size Nonprofit: $10,000

Eligibility Criteria

COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund
- Businesses must meet the following criteria:
  - Be a legally recognized business in good standing with the state of Maryland as determined by the MD Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT)
  - Be current on all county tax liabilities (paid in full)
  - Have no outstanding/open zoning or permitting code enforcement issues
  - Have been operational and making revenue prior to March 1, 2019
  - Be able to demonstrate significant financial impact caused by COVID-19 (at least 25% reduction in revenues between March 1 – July 1, 2020, as compared to the same period in 2019)
  - Increased expenses related to COVID-19 prevention measures may be used to calculate the 25% financial change if identified on the Profit & Loss statement as an incurred cost
- Additionally, businesses must:
  - Be Calvert-County based with principle facilities located in the county
  - Not be a franchise or national chain (unless locally owned and operated)
  - Have annual revenues under $5 million
  - Have between one and 50 full-time equivalent W-2 employees (see questions nine through 13 for additional instructions). Single Owners/Sole Proprietors who own the business do not need to have any employees.
Nonprofit Relief Fund
- Nonprofit organizations are eligible for a grant, but must meet the following criteria:
  - Good standing with the state of Maryland and the IRS;
  - Current on all county tax liabilities (paid in full);
  - No outstanding/open zoning or permitting code enforcement issues;
  - Compliance with the Maryland Solicitation Act’s Charitable Registration;
  - Provide service in Calvert County;
  - Demonstrate adequate nonprofit fiscal and governance capacity.

Requirements

COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund
- Evidence of business disruption or increased expenses (for example, reduced sales or inability to make loan payments);
- Profit and loss (P&L) from March 1 – July 1, 2020, and March 1 – July 1, 2019;
- Last two years of business tax returns filed (first two pages only);
- Copy of 2020 Quarter 1 Form 941 – Quarterly Federal Tax Return Part 1 (showing number of employees);
- Copy of most recent Form Schedule C (Sole Proprietorships only)
Nonprofit Relief Fund
- Grassroots Nonprofit
  - Nonprofit determination letter
  - Most recent budget report and board meeting minutes
  - Fund Usage Form
- Small Nonprofit & Mid-Size Nonprofit:
  - Nonprofit determination letter
  - Profit & Loss Form
  - Fund Usage Form
  - Copy of last two years of Form 990