Emergency Business Assistance Grant Program *DEADLINE: 10/12/2020*

The application process of the this program is CLOSED. 

Program Description

 The purpose of the City of Sweet Home Emergency Business Assistance Grant Program is to provide grants to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on those small businesses in the City that have been previously unable to obtain aid from the various Federal or State government programs that have been implemented during the current crisis. In particular, this grant program seeks to help historically disadvantaged business owners and sole proprietorships.

Eligibility

Eligibility is limited to businesses that:

1. Are headquartered or have their principal business operations within the City of Sweet Home
2. Have 25 or fewer employees
3. Either:
   
   1. Are a for-profit or non-profit that has been prohibited from operation by the Governor’s Executive Order 20-12 or
   2. Can demonstrate a one-month decline in revenue greater than 50% in the month of March or April, 2020 as compared to sales in January or February 2020 or to sales in March or April, 2019.
4. Have been unable to access Federal CARES Act funds, including, but not limited to, Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance Program (EIDL)

The Following businesses are not eligible:

1. Passive real estate holding companies and others holding passive investments.
2. Non-profit entities that do not have federal 501(c)(3) status.
3. Businesses that are delinquent on federal, state, or local taxes that were due before April 1, 2020.
4. Businesses that do not comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Grant Awards

Grants will be awarded to businesses based on their number of employees, according to the following schedule:

1. 0-5 Employees
   
   1. $2,500, or
   2. 60-day fixed expenses up to a maximum of $5,000.
2. 6-10 Employees
   
   1. $5,000, or
   2. 60-day fixed expenses up to a maximum of $10,000.
3. 11-15 Employees
   
   1. $7,500, or
   2. 60-day fixed expenses up to a maximum of $15,000.
4. 16-20 Employees
   
   1. $10,000, or
   2. 60-day fixed expenses up to a maximum of $15,000.
5. 21-25 Employees
   
   1. $12,500, or
   2. 60-day fixed expenses up to a maximum of $15,000.

   Application Process

   Applications are available via the City’s website, and at City Hall, the Sweet Home Public Library, and the Sweet Home Chamber of Commerce.

   Applicants are encouraged to complete the forms electronically and email them to City staff, but hard copies will be accepted as well, both by mail, through the City’s dropbox at City Hall, or, in person.

   Please address questions or concerns, and send completed applications to:

   Blair Larsen, Community & Economic Development Director
   3225 Main Street
   Sweet Home, OR 97386
   blarsen@sweethomeor.gov?subject=Emergency%20Business%20Assistance%20Grant%20Program">​blarsen@sweethomeor.gov
   541-818-8036

   Review and Award Process

   Applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of the City Manager or designee, the Community and Economic Development Director, and the Mayor. The committee will review all applications for completeness, business eligibility, accuracy, and adherence to the goals and restrictions of the State funding. If any portion of an application is in question, or eligibility is uncertain, the committee will first attempt to contact the applicant for clarification or correction.

   A simple majority vote of the committee members will determine if an application is awarded or rejected. Payment will then be processed, completed, and mailed with an award letter within one week for awarded applications. The Community and Economic Development Director will draft a letter to rejected applicants explaining the reason for the rejection and inviting them to correct their application and reapply if there was a mistake.

   City staff will compile a database of all applications, their award status, any communication with applicants, and payment information. This database will be used to report final aggregate results to Business Oregon, the City Council and the general public, and to refine future grant programs.