Application Online Launch – Friday May 22nd at 8AM
The Board of County Commissioners of Palm Beach County has authored the initiation of the CARES Restart Business Grants Program. The program will accept applications, online, starting at 8AM on Friday, May 15th. The CARES Restart Business Grants Program is designed to accelerate the reopening of businesses hardest hit by new coronavirus pandemic.
$60 million has been allocated to the Business Restart Program from the county’s $261 million allocation from the CARES Act.
The BCC dedicated $50 million toward businesses with 25 or fewer employees and an additional $10 million for businesses with over 25 employees.
The specific program guidelines (including eligibility criteria) are detailed, below and are posted on the county’s web site.
Grants for each qualified business will be for up to $25,000 and are designed to assist Palm Beach County businesses impacted by the state mandated restrictions on operations as they “restart” their phased reopening process.
RESTART BUSINESS GRANTS (for business with 25 employees or fewer)
Allocation: $50 million
Assistance Offered: $25,000 maximum award (Grants & Forgivable Loans received by businesses related to COVID-19 will be reduced from eligible maximum award)
PLEASE NOTE: There will be a dollar to dollar reduction in the amount a business can be awarded based on funds already granted under the Paycheck Protection Program. In other words, if $25,000 or more has already been received under the Paycheck Protection Program, the business will be ineligible for a Restart Business Grant.
Eligibility
- Business has 25 employees or fewer
- Business has been operating since October 1, 2019 and was still operating on February 29, 2020
- Business is located in Palm Beach County
- Business is not a publicly traded company
- Business is not a non-profit organization
- Business does not exceed $3 million in total gross receipts or sales
- Businesses with 25 or less employees and total gross receipts or sales of $3-5M will be funded from the $10M allocation
Examples of Eligible Businesses
- Agriculture
- Child Care Centers, Adult Day Care Centers
- Gyms & Fitness Studios
- Hair Salons, Nail Salons, Barber Shops
- Health Care Services & Medical Offices
- Professional Services
Based on NAICS Codes - Restaurants, Caterers, Bakeries
- Retail – Physical Brick/Mortar Store
Eligible Uses
- Salaries/Payroll
- Inventories
- Commercial Lease, Mortgage, or Rent Payments
- Utilities
- Other Expenses – due to new safety provisions
Required Documents
- Fully executed application, including certifications, affirmations, and acknowledgements
- Financial information such as tax returns and payroll report
- Active Palm Beach County Business Tax Receipt
- Active copy of your Registered Business as shown on SunBiz.Org
Justification
- To support businesses most affected by COVID 19
Other
- Minimum number of business helped under this program is 2000, if maximum award is granted
- Completed applications will be processed in the order that they were received
- PBC will be partnering with S/M/WBE vendors to process business grant applications
Statistics: FL Department of Economic Opportunity 2018 employment data
- 58% of businesses in Palm Beach County have 5 or less employees
- 20% of businesses in Palm Beach County have 6-25 employees
- 22% of businesses in Palm Beach County have over 25 employees
RESTART BUSINESS GRANTS (for businesses with over 25 employees)
Allocation: $10 million
Assistance Offered: $25,000 maximum award (Grants & Forgivable Loans received by businesses related to COVID-19 will be reduced from eligible maximum award)
PLEASE NOTE: There will be a dollar to dollar reduction in the amount a business can be awarded based on funds already granted under the Paycheck Protection Program. In other words, if $25,000 or more has already been received under the Paycheck Protection Program, the business will be ineligible for a Restart Business Grant.
Eligibility
- Business has more than 25 employees
- Business has been operating since October 1, 2019 and was still operating on February 29, 2020
- Business is located in Palm Beach County
- Business is not a publicly traded company
- Business is not a non-profit organization
- Business does not exceed $5 million in total gross receipts or sales
Examples of Eligible Businesses
- Agriculture
- Child Care Centers, Adult Day Care Centers
- Gyms & Fitness Studios
- Hair Salons, Nail Salons, Barber Shops
- Health Care Services & Medical Offices
- Professional Services
Based on NAICS Codes - Restaurants, Caterers, Bakeries
- Retail – Physical Brick/Mortar Store
Eligible Uses
- Salaries/Payroll
- Inventories
- Commercial Lease, Mortgage, or Rent Payments
- Utilities
- Other Expenses – due to new safety provisions
Required Documents
- Fully executed application, including certifications, affirmations, and acknowledgements
- Financial information such as tax returns and payroll report
- Active Palm Beach County Business Tax Receipt
- Active copy of your Registered Business as shown on SunBiz.Org
Justification
- To support businesses most affected by COVID 19
Other
- Minimum number of business helped under this program is 400, if maximum award is granted
- Completed applications will be processed in the order that they were received
- PBC will be partnering with S/M/WBE vendors to process business grant applications
Statistics: FL Department of Economic Opportunity 2018 employment data
- 58% of businesses in Palm Beach County have 5 or less employees
- 20% of businesses in Palm Beach County have 6-25 employees
- 22% of businesses in Palm Beach County have over 25 employees