ROUND 2 GRANT PROGRAM

The Westmoreland County Board of Commissioners has authorized Round 2 of the Westmoreland County Small Business Support Grant Program. The program will provide up to $25,000, or 25%, of calculated revenue loss due to COVID-19, whichever is less, OR up to $25,000 of eligible and supported expenses related to COVID-19 to small businesses within Westmoreland County that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis.  Businesses are encouraged to complete both revenue loss and expenses to ensure the best opportunity for a successful result.  

Businesses which experienced a gain in revenue over the prior period, or which are less than two years old must apply using Option B. If you purchased an existing business in the prior two years and have access to prior financial information, including tax returns, you may apply under either Option A or Option B. Otherwise, you must apply using Option B. If you are a business which received funding under Round 1 of the Westmoreland CARES Small Business Support Grant program, you may be eligible to receive additional funding not to exceed a total of $25,000 granted between both Round 1 and Round 2.

Round 2 of the CARES Small Business Support Grant Program will be operated on a first-come, first-serve basis:

• Businesses who received funding from Round 1 of the Westmoreland CARES Small Business Support Grant Program are eligible to apply for Round 2 only if they have not received the maximum award of $25,000. If your business received an award of $25,000 through Round 1 of the Westmoreland CARES Small Business Support Grant Program, you are not eligible.
• Only fully completed applications will be considered.
• Not all applications will be funded.
• There is no application fee.
• You may apply under Option A: revenue loss and/or Option B: COVID-19 related expenses.
• If your business experienced a revenue gain or is a new business, you must apply using Option B.

Grant Program Timeline

• Round 2 Program Announcement:  November 13th
• Round 2 Submission Period:   Beginning November 13th 
• Round 2 Award Notification:    The Commissioners in conjunction with the Economic Growth Connection will work as quickly as possible to process and review applications. Award announcements will be made at a Board of Commissioners’ public meeting with disbursement of grant funds to occur within 15 days of receipt of an executed grant agreement with the County. The Board may schedule special public meetings if needed.

Eligibility Requirements

• Small businesses include sole proprietors; self-employed; individual/single-owner LLC; corporations; limited liability companies and partnerships.
• Applicants who are and/or were negatively impacted by COVID-19, including through declines in revenue or cash reserves or increases in expenses related to COVID-19 specific mitigation efforts.
• Applicants must have less than 100 employees to be considered, per Commonwealth Act 24.
• Applicants must have physical operations within Westmoreland County. For businesses headquartered outside of Westmoreland County, information provided in the application process must be specific to Westmoreland County operations only.
• Franchises must have less than 15 employees.
• Applicants that have accepted or received other public COVID-19 related grant funding from such programs as the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan Grant or COVID-19 Statewide Business Assistance Program (CDFI) are eligible, but the level of funding received through the Westmoreland CARES Small Business Support Grant Program may be impacted.

How can the funds be used?

Per current statutory provisions and Federal and Commonwealth guidance relating to Pennsylvania Act 24 of 2020 (“Act 24”), the Pennsylvania COVID-19 – County Relief Block Grant Program, and the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) Coronavirus Relief Fund, funds can be used to cover working capital costs necessary to maintain a business during the COVID-19 public health crisis. Funding may not be used to pay owner’s salary or pay the owner outright. Applicants will be required to detail how the awards were used in reporting requirements. Grant funding can also be used for the costs of items needed to operate safely during COVID-19 and meet public health requirements (i.e., masks, barriers, signage, gloves, etc.) to the extent not compensated by another funding program.

A few examples of uses include:

• Payroll (excludes payroll covered through the Paycheck Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program);
• Operating costs (i.e., workers compensation insurance premium and unemployment insurance premium increases related to COVID-19);
• Utilities, cable, internet, phone (excluding personal residence);
• Rent/mortgage interest (excluding personal residence, including equipment leases);
• Sanitizing/disinfecting product and/or services;
• Personal protective equipment and other COVID-19 related supplies;
• Purchase of equipment to facilitate social distancing (i.e., signage, plastic barriers, outdoor dining equipment);
• Temperature screening equipment;
• Equipment and/or software to improve telework capabilities;
• Employee paid leave due to COVID-19 illness or quarantine (e.g., EFMLA);
• Facility cleaning; and
• Perishable product loss as a result of business closure or partial shutdown.

Required Documentation

In order for your application to be considered complete and eligible for consideration, you must submit the following IN THIS SPECIFIED ORDER:

• Completed application checklist
• Completed and signed application form (Please use the business name and address as shown on your W-9)
• Completed Form W-9
• 2018 AND 2019 Federal Tax Returns. If you file via:
• Form 1040: submit only pages 1 and 2, along with Schedule C
• Form 1065: submit only page 1
• Form 1120: submit only page 1
• Income statement (profit and loss statement) for the period January 1 to October 31, 2019
• Income statement (profit and loss statement) for the period January 1 to October 31, 2020
• Additional documentation to support a loss due to COVID-19 (i.e., include contracts canceled as a result of COVID-19)
• Invoices and/or receipts to support expenses related to COVID-19 from March 1, 2020 through the date of submission of the application, if you choose to apply under Option B.

Ineligible Applicants

• Businesses that did not experience revenue loss due to COVID-19 and/or businesses that have no additional costs associated with the COVID-19 public health crisis.
• Passive businesses such as commercial or residential landlords.
• Government or government-owned entities.
• Non-profit organizations and for-profit businesses with a direct tie to a non-profit.
• Private clubs/businesses that limit membership for reasons other than capacity.
• Businesses primarily engaged in lobbying or political activities.
• Businesses NOT compliant with all federal, state and local laws, including taxation.
• Businesses that are delinquent in the payment of real estate taxes.
• Businesses that have already received a maximum award of $25,000 under Round 1 of Westmoreland CARES Small Business Support Grant Program may not apply.

Questions? 

Please review the Frequently Asked Questions first, then contact Economic Growth Connection if you have additional questions regarding Round 2 of the Westmoreland CARES Small Business Support Grant Program.

Please contact James Smith or Kyle Martin at the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland by phone at (724) 830-3604 or by email at: [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected]

Resources:

Coronavirus Relief Fund Guidance for State, Territorial, Local, and Tribal Governments

Coronavirus Relief Fund Frequently Asked Questions