Business & Tech

Santa Cruz County To Award More Small Business Grants

More than $720,000 will be awarded through the Santa Cruz County Cares Recovery Program, which seeks to help those impacted by the pandemic.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Santa Cruz County will award small businesses impacted by the pandemic more than $720,000 in grants.

The Santa Cruz County Cares Recovery Program will distribute grants of up to $15,000 to essential and non-essential small businesses with 25 or fewer employees operating anywhere in the county. Half of the grants will go toward businesses owned by women and disadvantaged people, the county said in a news release.

Businesses may use grant funding to cover payroll, rent, offset costs imposed by the pandemic or purchase new equipment needed to stay competitive, the county said.

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Businesses must apply by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 11 to be entered into the lottery system through which the grants will be awarded. The lottery system will be split into South, Mid- and North County zones, the county said.

This is the second round of grants issued through the Santa Cruz County Cares Recovery Program. Nearly $280,000 was distributed in the first round.

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Learn more about the program here.

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