Phoenix –The Maricopa County Small Business Relief Program is entering a new phase, one that will enable more local businesses and non-profits (501(c)3) to get reimbursed for financial losses incurred during the pandemic.

“More than 300 businesses and non-profits received grants during phase one of the program in July,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman, District 4.  “Now we want to open up this financial assistance to more organizations that have suffered financial losses during the pandemic because the success of our small business community is crucial to a full economic recovery.”

The Board of Supervisors allocated $23 million in federal CARES Act funding for small business assistance.  Approximately $2.4 million has been dispersed to date through the Small Business Relief Program.  Starting on August 17, applications will be accepted for an expanded version of the program.  Changes include:

·       Raising the maximum grant amount from $10,000 to $25,000

·       Expanded the time frame of eligible lost revenues

·       Raising the ceiling on the maximum number of employees and gross sales a qualifying business or non-profit can have

·       Removing certain pre-qualifications

Maricopa County is once again partnering with the Arizona Community Foundation to administer the program.  Grants will be provided on a rolling, first come, first served basis until funding is exhausted or the grant period closes. Applications will be accepted from August 17 through October 2, 2020.

The grants will be open to businesses and non-profits across Maricopa County, except those in the cities of Phoenix and Mesa, since those cities also received significant CARES Act money and are operating similar programs.