MONROE COUNTY CARES ACT SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE 

MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved CARES Act assistance to small businesses that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. The Monroe County CARES Business Assistance Program consists of a one-time fixed amount grant to qualifying Monroe County-based small businesses with up to 25 employees to aid in their recovery from COVID-19 interruptions. The BOCC set aside $1 million of the County’s initial CARES Act funds for this program. Small businesses throughout Monroe County, unincorporated and throughout the cities, are eligible.

Business grant amounts will be based on the number of the applicant’s employees as of Feb. 29, 2020. They are as follows:

  • Self-Employed, Sole Proprietors (1 employee): $2,500
  • 2-10 employees: $5,000
  • 11-25 employees: $7,500

An employee includes the owner of the business plus any person that is employed full-time, part-time, or on a seasonal basis by the grant applicant. Applications will be accepted and funded based on when a fully completed application is received until the funds are expended. To apply for the program and read the required documents needed to apply for the program, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/bizcares.

Local chambers of commerce also offered to help any local businesses in their area with application questions, even if they are not members. Contact your local chamber for any additional help after reading the guidance and frequently asked questions document.

Monroe County’s current funding agreement with Florida Department of Emergency Management is for an initial 25 percent advance payment of $3,250,835. The funds are intended for use by local government to cover the costs of their COVID-19 public health and safety measure and to provide economic relief to residents and businesses impacted by the pandemic and related closures and restrictions.  The overall proposed allocation plan reflects that amount:

  • Public health/safety expenditures by constitutional officers: $1,300,000
  • Public health/safety expenditures by county and cities: $680,000
  • Small Business assistance grants, up to $1,000,000
  • Residential Rent/Mortgage Assistance, up to $200,000. This amount is augmented with $638,000 in Florida Housing and Finance Corporation’s funding for rent/mortgage/utility assistance.

To read more about the proposed allocation plan or the Monroe County CARES rent and mortgage program, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/cares.

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