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Lucas County Stabilization Grant

​The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Lucas County will be distributing financial assistance to aid small businesses in Lucas County with relief from the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible small businesses can apply for up to $25,000 to use for payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, business insurance, inventory and supplies, and COVID-19 related expenses (e.g. masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, plexiglass partitions, etc.). Those with 1-20 employees are eligible for grants of up to $10,000, and those with 21-50 employees are eligible for grants of up to $25,000. Not-for-profit entities with 50 or fewer employees are eligible for grants of up to $25,000. ​ The program is funded via Lucas County’s allotment from the federal CARES Act.
 
The intent of this program is to aid small businesses impacted by COVID-19. This program is aimed at small businesses that were interrupted through required closures, voluntary closures to promote social distancing, or that were impacted by decreased customer demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Must be a for-profit or not-for-profit entity with its primary operation located in Lucas County, Ohio
• Must have been established on or before January 1, 2019
• Must have a Federal Taxpayer Identification Number (and a copy of a non-profit determination letter, if applicable)
• Must have a physical business location inside Lucas County 
• Must be a small business with 50 or fewer employees
• Must have less than $5 million in annual gross revenue as evidenced by a 2019 federal tax return
• Must certify experiencing a loss in gross revenue in 2020 due to COVID-19
• Must certify being current on all federal, state, and local taxes, and not having liens on property
• Must certify compliance with all federal, state, and local requirements for businesses
• Must certify not being in bankruptcy
• Must attest that the entity will remain in business for the duration of 2020 (December 31, 2020) at a minimum

 
Ineligible Businesses

• Banks, savings and loans, or credit unions
• Businesses with costs originating solely from a personal residence
• Franchised businesses not locally owned and independently operated
• Businesses currently in bankruptcy
• Cannabis businesses and businesses ancillary to cannabis are ineligible to participate in federal assistance programs

 
Eligible Expenses - Includes those incurred between April 1, 2020 and October 31, 2020 and applicable to locations within Lucas County

• Salaries, wages, and compensation paid to employees
• Rent or lease costs
  • Rent or lease costs for businesses located in or operated out of a personal residence are not eligible
• Mortgage costs including interest
  • Mortgage costs for businesses located in or operated out of a personal residence are not eligible
• Utility costs for electric, natural gas/propane, internet, and phone
  • Utility costs for businesses located in or operated out of a personal residence are not eligible
• Business insurance costs
• Inventory and supplies
• Personal Protective Equipment or other Responsible RestartOhio related costs

 
Ineligible Expenses

• Cost of vehicles or equipment leased or purchased, except if the purchase of equipment is to comply with Responsible RestartOhio requirements
• Personal, non-business expenses of the business or its owner(s)
• Construction costs except if to comply with Responsible RestartOhio requirements
• Any tax, license, or fee obligations payable to any governmental entity
• Costs already covered or reimbursed by any COVID-related funding, including Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans
• Costs for political or religious activities of an organization

 
APPLICATION SUBMISSION PROCESS

• Applications will be accepted beginning October 27, 2020. The application period will close on December 1, 2020 or when the number of submissions indicates the depletion of funds.
• The applicant must submit the completed application and required documentation via the web-based form provided at toledochamber.com/grant. 
• The applicant will receive a confirmation once the completed application has been submitted.
• Completed applications will be processed on a first-come-first-serve basis until funds are exhausted.

 
REQUIRED BUSINESS DOCUMENTATION

• Copy of year 2019 tax returns, including Form 1040 with Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business, Form 1120 (if corporation), or equivalent documentation 
• Copy of 2019 Form W-3 Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements (showing number of employees)
• Copy of business's Form W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (signed in 2019)
• Proof of reimbursable business expenditures (receipts/invoices)

 
FINAL DECISION AND NOTIFICATION

• The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce will contact applicants once a decision has been made
• Approved applicants will complete a grant agreement before the release of funds
• All grant funds will be distributed via electronic payment according to the information provided on an ACH form by the awardee

 
 
For additional information regarding the Lucas County Small Business Stabilization Grant, please refer to these FAQs and/or contact the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce at [email protected].