Applications must be received before June 19

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved $45 million in grant funding to aid small businesses enduring hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic. The program is open to small businesses based in cities and unincorporated communities of Riverside County. These businesses must apply online by June 19.

The grant will provide up to $10,000 in assistance to individual businesses. Applications will be accepted and recommended for grant approval based on meeting requirements. Available funding is limited. The awarded businesses will be chosen by an automated random selection process by Main Street Launch, a third-party nonprofit.

“Riverside County is using federal funding to assist small businesses, and it is very important that small businesses located anywhere throughout Riverside County learn about this program and apply quickly,” said Riverside County Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “These are grants that will provide greatly-needed help for small businesses.”

Grants are not available to businesses that have received other federal assistance such as the Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan or the Paycheck Protection Program. Awardees must also develop and implement a safe reopening plan that addresses employee and customer health prior to disbursement.

Approximately 96 percent of businesses in Riverside County are small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The small business grants are intended to promote business sustainability, job retention, and the overall economic preservation of small businesses throughout the county.

“The Riverside County Economic Recovery Task Force is working with the county team every day to help businesses across Riverside County get back up on their feet and open, both safely and successfully,” said Lou Monville, Chair of the Riverside County Economic Recovery Task Force. “So many small and family owned business were left out of other relief programs, so I applaud the Board of Supervisors for allocating these funds to our most vulnerable local businesses.”

Applications can be accessed at https://rivcoccsd.org/covidbizhelp. For more detailed information including, eligible businesses, use of funds, required documentation and how to apply, visit https://rivcoccsd.org/covidbizhelp.