Small Businesses In Hillsboro Can Apply For Grants Next Week Through Micro Enterprise Services Organization

Press release from the City of Hillsboro:

October 14, 2020

Apply for up to $25,000 in emergency grant funding.

Small businesses and nonprofits in the City of Hillsboro can apply to receive between $2,500 and $25,000 in emergency grant funding next week. Grant awards will be sent out as early as the week of November 9.

Applications will be accepted from Tuesday, October 20, at 8 am through Monday, October 26, at 5 pm on the Micro Enterprise Service Organization (MESO) website.

The emergency support is funded by the Federal CARES Act through Business Oregon, the State of Oregon’s Economic Development Agency, to help offset some of the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Which businesses are eligible?

Hillsboro businesses are eligible to apply even if they received funding during the three rounds of the City’s Emergency Business Grant — or Washington County’s Small Business Emergency Grant.

Businesses and nonprofits must be located inside Hillsboro city limits and have an active business license from the City of Hillsboro prior to applying. Call 503-681-6408 for any questions regarding Hillsboro business licenses.

Each business must have 25 or fewer employees, and have been adversely affected in one of the following two ways:

• For-profit and nonprofit (limited to 501(c) (3) corporations) businesses that were prohibited from operation as directed by Executive Order 20-12.
• For-profit and nonprofit (limited to 501(c) (3) corporations) businesses that can demonstrate a one-month decline in sales of 50% or more, incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, beginning in the month of March 2020 up to the date of this application as compared against sales in the month of January 2020 or February 2020, or as compared against the same period of time in 2019.

Priority will be given to eligible businesses that have yet to receive emergency grant funding, sole proprietors, and minority- and woman-owned businesses.

To help businesses prepare to apply, eligibility guidelines and applications will be available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Simplified Chinese on the MESO website.

MESO staff will be available by phone at 503-489-7410 in English and Spanish, during normal business hours, to assist business owners and entrepreneurs during the application window.

“We encourage all Hillsboro businesses who meet these criteria to apply for this federal support,” said Mayor Steve Callaway. “And remember, you can apply even if you already received emergency grant funding from the City of Hillsboro or Washington County.”

Which type of businesses are ineligible?

The following businesses are ineligible to apply for or receive funding under the Program:

• Passive real estate holding companies and other entities holding passive investments.

• Nonprofit entities that do not have federal 501(c) (3) status.
• Businesses that experience a decline in revenues for reasons other than those caused by the COVID-19 epidemic (e.g. seasonal or cyclical businesses cycles.)
• Businesses that are delinquent on federal, state or local taxes that were due on or before the date of application.
• Businesses that do not comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations.
• Businesses that have already received grant funds through this State of Oregon COVID-19 Emergency Business Grant program or from the Statewide Business and Cultural Support Program.
• Businesses that have received more federal CARES funding (e.g. PPP or EIDL) than available to eligible businesses set forth by this program in this application.
• Businesses that do not otherwise meet the eligibility requirements set forth above.

SUMMARY: What small business owners need to know

• Visit the MESO website between Tuesday, October 21, at 8 am and Monday, October 26 at 5 pm to apply for an emergency small business grant between $2,500 and $25,000.
• MESO staff will be available by phone at 503-489-7410 to assist small businesses and those who would like help filling out the online application during normal business hours.
• Grant funds will be awarded only to businesses and nonprofits located within Hillsboro city limits with an active business license from the City of Hillsboro.
• Verification Documents may be required to complete the application process.
• Businesses that have applied and received funding previously are eligible to apply.

This press release was produced by the City of Hillsboro. The views expressed here are the author’s own.