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Toledo Emergency Microenterprise Recovery Grant Second Round
Announced
Special to The Truth
Toledo Mayor Wade
Kapszukiewicz last week announced a second round for
applications to the citys Emergency Microenterprise
Recovery Grant (EMRG) program.
The grant application
originally opened May 11 and closed May 24. The second and
final round will open at 9 a.m., Monday, Oct. 19, Mayor
Kapszukiewicz said.
There is $250,000
remaining, so we will be able to help about 50 additional
businesses, the mayor said. The first round of this
program was a great success and helped a lot of small
businesses in Toledo. We established the Emergency
Microenterprise Recovery Grant to aid in the economic
recovery of microenterprises negatively impacted by the
COVID-19 crisis. Microenterprises, the smallest businesses
in our city, contribute greatly to the vitality of our
neighborhoods, support families, create jobs, and are
essential to the economic health of our city. We will
process applications during this final round of the program
until the funds are exhausted.
The EMRG is a grant program
designed to assist for-profit microenterprises to maintain
or restart operations and retain jobs by providing up to
$5,000 for eligible operating expenses. The program is
funded with $1 million of the $4.4 million COVID-19 CARES
Act Community Development Block Grant Funds received by the
city. The grants are subject to federal requirements. EMRG
is a one-time program that will terminate once the grant
funds are disbursed.
Each business receiving
funding is located in a low-to-moderate income census tract,
or is owned by a member of a low-to-moderate income
household, said Sandy Spang, commissioner of business
services. The business types are strongly representative of
sectors most severely impacted by mandatory closures and
loss of revenue, including salons and barbershops, daycares,
restaurants, retailers, and other service providers.
Three-hundred three
applications were received during the first round, of which,
239 were HUD-qualified by census tract or household.
One-hundred ninety-five businesses have been awarded grants
for a total of $750,000.
We look forward to offering
support to additional businesses impacted by the
unprecedented challenge of COVID-19, Ms. Spang said.
Demographics of Awarded
Business Owners:
60 percent of
awardees are Minority Owned Businesses
52 percent of
awardees are Woman Owned Businesses
40 percent of
awardees are Female Head of Household
77 percent of
awardees are Woman and/or Minority Owned Businesses
A microenterprise is defined
as a small-scale business with five or fewer employees,
including the owner(s).
Eligible applicants must
meet all of the following criteria:
Applicant
meets one U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
eligibility requirement:
Owns a business located in a
low-to-moderate income census tract; or
Household income does not exceed
80 percent of HUD area median income.
Owns a
for-profit business located in the city of Toledo.
Has an active
registration with the Toledo Division of Taxation.
Applicant is
51 percent + majority owner of the business.
Applicant is
18 or older.
Business has
been in operation since Jan. 1, 2020.
Business has
five or fewer full-time employees, or their equivalent, as
of Feb. 15, 2020.
Applicant is
in good standing with governmental entities.
Ineligible applicants
include:
Landlords
Realtors
501(c)(3)
organizations
Social service
agencies
Religious
institutions
Lobbying
organizations
Applicant, and
any owners thereof, who are employed by the city of Toledo
Other
ineligible businesses include payday loan businesses, liquor
and tobacco stores, pawn shops, firearm or other weapons
dealers, adult entertainment, passive real estate
investments, or home-based businesses operating without
appropriate zoning and/or permits.
More information can be
found, and applications may be filed, at
https://toledo.oh.gov/emrgrant.
Please email emrg@toledo.oh.gov
with any questions.
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