On March 17, 2020, Mayor Bowser and the Council of the District of Columbia enacted the COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (the "Act"). The Act can be found here.
Among other initiatives, the Act creates the DC Small Business Recovery Microgrants Program (Title II, Section 202 on pages 6-8 of the Act). This program enables eligible businesses, which may be small businesses, independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and nonprofits, to apply for a grant or loan. There will be a $25 million fund available, and the grants or loans will be issued in the mayor's sole discretion. The grants or loans may be used for employee wages and benefits, operating costs (including taxes and debt service), and repayment of loans obtained through the U.S. Small Business Administration. The application deadline is 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31.
Eligibility: The guidance for eligibility is as follows:
The official DC website for more information, as well as this graphic of eligibility, can be found at: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/dc-small-business-recovery-grants
FAQ Link: The application instructions and FAQs can be found at:
https://coronavirus.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/coronavirus/page_content/attachments/Application%20Instructions%20and%20Tips%20for%20Recovery%20Grant%20Seekers-03-25-2.pdf
Application Links: The links for the online applications may be found at the following locations:
- Application link for small businesses, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals:
https://www.grantrequest.com/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fapplication.aspx%3fSA%3dSNA%26FID%3d35055%26sid%3d5501&SA=SNA&FID=35055&sid=5501 - Application link for nonprofits:
https://www.grantrequest.com/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fapplication.aspx%3fSA%3dSNA%26FID%3d35056%26sid%3d5501&SA=SNA&FID=35056&sid=5501
As our clients across the District of Columbia continue to grapple with the economic effects of the COVID-19 epidemic – the shuttering of non-essential businesses, loss of revenue, creeping illiquidity, and the many difficult decisions that lie ahead – the lawyers at Venable remain dedicated to serving DC businesses through this difficult period, offering guidance and support as we collectively navigate these challenges.