Clackamas County is offering a second round of Small Business Assistance grants to provide financial support to businesses with 25 employees or less that have been adversely affected by economic conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Clackamas County is focused on supporting businesses across the county, especially those with owners who are historically disadvantaged, sole proprietors and in low income, unincorporated areas,” said Laura Zentner, Director of the County’s Department of Business and Community Services.
The program, provided in cooperation with Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), will provide a total of $155,000 in grants, with individual grants starting at $2,500.Applications will be available online at https://www.mesopdx.org/grants/, and will be accepted through Nov. 6. All completed applications received by the deadline will be considered.
To be eligible to apply, a business must have been adversely affected economically in one of the following categories:
- For-profit and non-profit (limited to 501(c)(3) corporations) businesses that were prohibited from operation as directed by Executive Order 20-12.
- For-profit businesses that can demonstrate a one month decline in revenue greater than 50% in the month of March 2020 or April 2020 as compared with sales in the month of January 2020 or February 2020.
- Non-profit businesses (limited to 501(c)(3) corporations) that can demonstrate a decline in revenue greater than 50% across the months of March 2020 and April 2020 as compared with the same period of time in 2019.
· Serve Clackamas County residents; · Have employed less than 25 employees on Feb. 29, 2020; · If part of a chain, must be an individually-owned franchise
Businesses that receive a grant will be allowed to use the funds to cover operating expenses such as payroll and benefits, rent or mortgage payments, and utility bills.
Clackamas County encourages applications from minority-owned, woman-owned and veteran-owned businesses, as well as sole proprietorships. The county, together with MESO and a grant review committee, will work to ensure equitable distribution amongst all small business types.
The County is committed to ensuring fair, equitable and careful distribution of grant awards to local businesses.
Businesses with questions are invited to contact Clackamas County Business & Economic Development Coordinator Jon Legarza at jlegarza@clackamas.us or the Business and Community Services Department at 503-742-4BIZ or 4biz@clackamas.us.
Contact: Jon Legarza Phone: 503-742-4BIZ Email: 4BIZ@clackamas.us