Collier County opens CARES Act applications on Monday

Collier County on Monday will start to offer one-time grants to small businesses hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic with money the county received through the CARES Act.

Businesses can apply online through the CollierCARES Relief Funding Program.

Criteria include small business owners with locations in Collier County who employ 50 or fewer full-time employees. One-time grants will amount to $25,000 intended to offset costs of business interruption due to the shutdown of the economy and as it slowly reopens.

Applications open at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31, and close at noon Monday, Sept. 14.

“Small businesses are vital to our economy, and it is imperative that we help them and the families and communities they support,” said Sean Callahan in the press release, the executive director of corporate business operations in Collier County. “I implore business owners who qualify to apply for these grants, while we have the funds available.”

According to the press release, costs to reopen/relaunch must have been incurred by the required state executive order and may not have been covered by insurance or any other federal programs. This disbursement is part of the “CollierCARES Small Business Relaunch and Rehire Program,” distributing up to $10 million of the $67 million in total funds that Collier County received in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act emergency financial aid.

Eligibility will be determined by some of the following criteria:

• 50 or fewer full-time employees
• Business located within Collier County
• Business must occupy leased/commercial space
• Active business tax license and state registration
• Business has suffered economic damages exceeding the amount awarded from business interruption

The county said personal protection equipment to help with the CDC compliance can be chosen during the application process.

Anyone who needs help applying online can go to any Collier County library branch for assistance. Businesses can sign up for email alerts as application portals open and as the deadline approaches on the website’s applications page.

For general information about the CollierCARES program, call 239-252-8999 outside Collier County or 311 within Collier County.

MORE: CollierCARES Relief Funding Program