Customer And Employee Protection Grant Application Now Available

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — The online application portal for the Customer and Employee Protection Grant (CEP) is now open via the Small Business Customer and Employee Protection Grant Program, which is designed to assist local businesses purchase products and services needed for safe reopening in compliance with coronavirus regulations.

The program is supported with $5 million from Anne Arundel County's allotment of funding from the federal CARES Act and will be managed by the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC). Through the program, a small business, particularly minority, women and veteran-owned businesses located within the county or the city of Annapolis can apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to cover the cost of the following purchases:

• PPE for employees
• Protective shields/dividers
• Sanitation products and services such as:
  • Disinfection UV lamps
  • Biocide/mold bomb foggers
• Digital signage and floor/wall/window graphics
• Technology (hardware, software, applications, online platforms) for the purposes of:
  • Wellness scans
  • Virtual meetings
  • Business website upgrades
  • Customer communications and marketing
  • E-commerce
• Delivery vehicles and equipment
• Professional consultation services such as legal and human resources experts to understand compliance regulations
• Workforce training to help employees understand and act on compliance best practices

The grant may be used as a reimbursement for eligible past purchases made after March 29. Businesses will be required to submit invoices to demonstrate proof of purchases. To be eligible for the program, an entity must be an Anne Arundel County-based business with 50 or fewer employees and must be in good standing with the state of Maryland.

Applicants will be required to submit a budget detailing purchases and vendors, as well as financial documents such as business tax returns, Schedule C or a profit and loss statement. Preference for funds will be given to industries most directly affected by local/state/national quarantine rules.