Applications Open For Pinellas Small Business Grants

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Pinellas County small businesses the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic can now apply online for a one-time grant of $5,000 to cover expenses such as employee wages, vendor bills and mortgage or rent costs.

Pinellas CARES Small Business Grants will assist businesses that had to close or significantly reduce operations due to the pandemic and the resulting statewide orders to curb the spread of the virus.

Grants are limited to businesses with a commercial location in Pinellas County. Full program details can be found here.

Grant Eligibility Overview

• $5,000 for qualifying small businesses with a physical location in Pinellas County
• 1-25 full-time employees or equivalent part-time employees, including the owner
• Restaurants, bars, short-term lodging and nonessential businesses impacted by the local or state safer-at-home orders are eligible
• Larger businesses, nonprofits and home-based businesses are not eligible
• Funds can be used to pay employee wages, vendors, rent or other business expenses
• No reimbursement is required
• Businesses can only apply for this one-time assistance program to cover coronavirus-related costs that are not paid by insurance or by another federal program.

Pinellas CARES funds come from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.