Small businesses can receive grants up to $5,000 to help with COVID-19 operating expenses, Tulare County officials announced Wednesday.

As many as 300 businesses per district could benefit from a $7.5 million fund that will be distributed evenly among the county’s five supervisorial districts.

“We are happy to be able to provide this resource to businesses within our community,” said Pete Vander Poel, chairman of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. “The businesses that are going to be benefiting from this are businesses who have not been served by any of the other relief programs that have come in response to this disaster. We really are trying to assist those businesses who have slipped through the cracks.”

Eligible Businesses

Businesses, including nonprofits, with 20 or fewer full-time employees are eligible — as are independent contractors.  Applicants must be located in Tulare County and in operation before March of this year. In addition, the businesses must attest to a loss of net revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ineligible are businesses that have received disaster relief funding such as Paycheck Protection Program, SBA Economic Disaster Relief Loan, or a loan from an incorporated city in Tulare County.

Eligible Expenses

The Workforce Investment Board of Tulare County will administer the grants. Funds may be used to cover businesses expenses incurred between March 19-September 30, 2020, such as:

• Rent
• Utilities
• Cleaning and disinfectant supplies
• Personal protective equipment
• Social distancing re-configuration
• Costs associated with limiting cash-handling.

Applications Begin Aug. 1

“This is a win for the Tulare County business community as well as community members,” said Adam Peck, WIB’s executive director. “We appreciate working with the CAO and the action of the Board of Supervisors, which shows a real commitment to the physical and economic health of our communities.”

Application documents will be available on Aug. 1 at the WIB website. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit www.tularewib.org to sign up for program notifications.