Clackamas County has received an additional $4.1 million to provide grants to small businesses that have been adversely affected by economic conditions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.
More than $3 million will be used to provide grants to eligible small businesses that submitted applications for previous grants. More than $1 million is available for a new round of grants.
This new round of grants will be available to restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments, gyms and fitness clubs, indoor recreational activities and museums, zoos, gardens, aquariums, indoor pools and other sports facilities, and venues that have not been able to host events under the current guidelines.
To be eligible, businesses must also have 50 or fewer employees, and can show adverse economic impacts from the pandemic.
The grants, provided in partnership with Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), will be for a maximum of $3,000. Applications will be available at www.mesopdx.org/grants from Saturday, Dec. 19, to Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020.
All completed applications received by the deadline from eligible businesses will be considered.
Any business-related operating expenses, not covered by previous grant/assistance dollars, are eligible for grant funding, including but not limited to payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, perishable inventory losses due to required closures, payments to suppliers, costs associated with reopening, PPE and cleaning supplies.
Businesses that received a grant in an earlier phase of this program may receive another grant as long as they can demonstrate additional need.
Clackamas County encourages applications from minority-owned, woman-owned and veteran-owned businesses and childcare providers, as well as sole proprietorships.
The county, MESO and a grant review committee will work to ensure equitable distribution among all applicants.
Businesses with questions are invited to contact Clackamas County Economic Development Coordinator Jon Legarza at jlegarza@clackamas.us or the Business and Community Services Department at 503-742-4BIZ or 4biz@clackamas.us.
