A Relief Program Is Available For Small Marietta Businesses

MARIETTA, OH —

March 23, 2021

Press release from Buckeye Hills Regional Council

MARIETTA SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF PROGRAM

Applications due by 5:00 p.m. April 30, 2021

OVERVIEW

The City of Marietta, through the use of Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus Response (CDBGCV) funds, has established the Small Business Relief Fund (SBRF). The SBRF seeks to assist small businesses in avoiding job loss caused by closures related to the global pandemic by providing short-term working capital assistance to enable retention of jobs held by low-and moderate-income persons. Furthermore, this funding can be used to help small businesses restart their operations after being closed for a period of time due to the coronavirus pandemic. Qualifying businesses can receive up to $3,000 in assistance from this program.
A total of $84,000 is available in this assistance program. Applications will be reviewed and awarded on a first come first served basis until funds are exhausted.

BASIC ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be considered eligible for assistance through the SBRF, a small business must meet the following criteria:

• Be a private for-profit business located and operating within the corporation limits of the City of Marietta Ohio. (DUNS, EIN or Tax ID number required for verification.)
• Must employ no more than 20 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) LMI workers; however, priority will be given to businesses that employ no more than 10 FTE LMI workers. Priority will also be given to women or minority-owned businesses.
• Applicant/business owner must be 18 years of age or older.
• Business must have been in business for at least six months as of March 1, 2020.
• Have been in good standing with the City of Marietta including current payment of any applicable fees and taxes prior to December 31, 2019.
• Must demonstrate benefits to low to moderate-income populations in the City of Marietta.
  • Applicant business owner must meet household LMI guidelines OR the applicant business must create or retain at least one (1) FTE W-2 position held by an LMI individual. If more than one job is created or retained, at least 51% of those positions must be held by, or available to, LMI individuals.
  • LMI in this case is defined as salary or aggregated hourly wages that are equal to or less than $36,500 annually in Washington County Ohio for a single individual. LMI verification document is included with the application and must be completed.
• Applicant must certify that no other federal CARES Act relief assistance has been received by the business including SBA Payroll Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) proceeds.

ELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS

• The following activities are eligible under this offer of assistance:
• Inventory and supply items necessary to safely re-open;
• Payroll expenses; Insurance expenses for employees;
• Rent or mortgage expenses;
• Other operating expenses including utilities, insurance, and professional services.

INELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS

• Funds from this program cannot be used for the following purposes:
• Reimbursement of expenses incurred
• Repayment of non-business debt including personal credit cards not associated with the business;
• Payment of personal expenses including family vehicles and repairs/modifications to any participant’s home;
• Purchases of personal items, or providing support to other businesses in which the borrower may have an interest;
• Any fees incurred in response to this application;
• Construction or remodeling activities.

Download the full guidelines, application, and additional supporting documents below:

DOWNLOAD GUIDELINES

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

The following attachments are also required with a completed application.

• Duplication of Benefits Affidavit AND one (1) of the two below.
• LMI Benefit Verification for Business Owner Household
• LMI Benefit Verification for Job Creation and Retention

This press release was produced by the Buckeye Hills Regional Council. The views expressed here are the author's own.