The County of Santa Cruz has announced a second round of grants for small businesses impacted by COVID-19, with $721,000 available to small businesses located in Santa Cruz County, including Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville, to aid in maintaining their workplace and workforce.
Grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded to provide immediate financial support to businesses. This round of grants is available to both essential and non-essential businesses with fewer than 25 employees.
Business owners who got a Payroll Protection Program loan are not eligible. The reason is to prevent “double dipping,” according to Peter Detlefs of the county Economic Development Office.
Grants are earmarked for geographic areas, based on the percentage of COVID-19 cases, with 31 for South County, including Watsonville and Freedom, 10 for MidCounty, including Capitola, Soquel and Aptos, and seven for North County, including Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley.
Half the money is set aside for businesses owned by women and business owned by individuals who are socially disadvantaged.
The money is left over from $1 million earmarked for small business aid; in the first round, $278,000 in grants was awarded.
Grant funds may be used to reimburse payroll expenses due to business interruption, lease payments for business premises, acquisition of inventory needed to re-open or maintain open status, new telework equipment costs, personal protective equipment, facility readiness (social distancing preparedness, business modifications, outdoor dining) and other eligible expenses.
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Complete applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 11.
Applications and additional information can be found at: www.sccvitality.org/Business/CARESGrant.aspx