Grant Frequently Asked Questions

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• When will I hear if my application was approved/funded?

  The first round of approvals are expected to come to the Board during the regularly scheduled Board meeting on September 15. The Grant Information page will be updated soon after with a list of funded businesses/organizations, and funded businesses/organizations will receive an email with further information.

• Monthly Financial Statements - What months are needed?

  Include the monthly financial statements for each month after the conclusion of your fiscal year or each month following the reporting period reported on your corporate tax return.

• Monthly Financial Statements - Should we use the balance sheet or income statement?

   

  Include the monthly financial statements, including the Balance Sheet and Income Statement or Profit and Loss Statement, internally prepared as of February 14, 2020. 
  

• Payroll Report - What time period should the payroll report include?

  Please provide payroll reports from January 1, 2020 – February 14, 2020, and at least the last quarterly payroll report from 2019, for all employees in your organization.

• I have business locations in multiple Supervisorial Districts. Do I need to send in multiple applications?

  Yes, you will need to send in a separate application for each district.

• How much funding should I request for my business?

  Activities eligible for funding must be a direct result of supporting public health and response activities associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The eligible expenditure period begins March 1, 2020 and goes through the end of the agreement term, no later than December 30, 2020. Select the eligible activities that were driven by the direct response to COVID-19 and put the amount requested. 

  If awarded grant funds, you will be required to submit supporting documentation to show funds were used on eligible expenditures.

• Will we need to repay the funds received?

  The Small Business Stimulus Program provides grant funds to for-profit/non-profit businesses. If awarded grant funds, it will not need to be repaid to the County.

• I included the incorrect attachment when I submitted my application? I need to submit a cover page for my payroll reports but I already submitted my application?

  If you need to submit documentation after you have already submitted your application, please submit to the Small Business Stimulus Grant email address at stimulusgrant@sdcounty.ca.gov. Please also include your application confirmation number.

• How will I know if I receive a grant?

  Businesses that are awarded grant funds will be decided at Board of Supervisors’ meetings.  A listing of the businesses that receive awarded grant funds will be posted to the Small Business Stimulus Grant Program webpage at https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/stimulusgrant/grantinfo/.

• Eligibility Question – What is the incident period for an eligible reimbursement?

  The CARES Act expenditure eligibility period is March 1, 2020 to December 30, 2020.

• Eligibility Question – How is eligibility determined?

  Program guidelines approved by the County Board of Supervisors and the Department of Treasury. For specific guidance from the Department of Treasury concerning the CARES ACT, go to https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares/state-and-local-governments.

• Eligibility Question – What type of eligible activity would fall under “Other uses approved by Grantor”?

  Generally, if a service and/or activity is required in order to help a small business alter operations to comply with COVID-19 public health orders (either for reopening or for changing operations to fit requirements), it will be considered an eligible expense. Supporting documentation would need to be provided to verify.

• Eligibility Question – Can a local chamber function as a subgrantee and charge administrative fees for outreach activities?

  Yes, if the administrative expenses represent an increase over previously budgeted amounts and are limited to what is necessary. However, proposed administrative costs would have to be detailed enough to demonstrate what is actually being done by the local chambers to help the small businesses apply to the County for the grants, and the administrative amounts/percentages would also have to be defended. A local chamber may not subgrant funds received to another business or organization.

• Eligibility Question – Are outreach/promotion activities considered eligible?

  If the services and activities are required in order to help a small business alter operations to comply with COVID-19 public health orders (either for reopening or for changing operations to fit requirements), eligibility should be ok. A detailed description will need to be provided by the business to support the costs.

• Eligibility Question – Is technical assistance eligible?

  Per the Coronavirus Relief Fund Guidance for State, Territorial, Local, and Tribal Governments (provided by the Treasury Department), expenses for technical assistance to local authorities or other entities on mitigation of COVID-19 public health emergency wll be eligible.

• Eligibility Question – Are language translation services eligible?

  If the services and activities are required in order to help a small business alter operations to comply with COVID-19 public health orders (either for reopening or for changing operations to fit requirements), eligibility should be approved. A detailed description will need to be provided by the business to support the costs.

• Eligibility Question – Can I apply for this grant if I have already received other emergency/federal funding?

  Yes, you may. However, we recommend that you check your agreements with your other funding sources to see if they will allow you to accept other CARES Act funding.

• Funding Requests – For filling out the funding request, do I use monthly numbers (such as for rent, payroll, etc.)?

  You should fill out the total amount you want for the eligible activity during eligible period (March 1 through December 30, 2020), not monthly amounts.

• Funding Requests – Is there a maximum or minimum amount of funding I can request?

  There is no max or minimum cap at the moment. 

• Contact Information – What if I have other Small Business Stimulus Grant program questions?

  Please email stimulusgrant@sdcounty.ca.gov with your question