Business owners who have not yet received a grant will soon have a second opportunity to apply for a Talbot CARES Small Business Emergency Relief Grant. The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism announced that it will begin taking applications for the second round of the program on September 1.
Talbot County has already reinvested $849,967 of the money it received from the CARES Act into small businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 public health crisis. A total of 107 business applied for the $1.2 million in grant funding that the County set aside for its small business grant program, with 90 applicants awarded grants.
Another $1.2 million of Talbot County’s $6.4 million allocation was earmarked for individual assistance, with the balance offsetting costs related to the COVID-19 response and funding additional public health efforts.
Small businesses from every corner of the county received funding of up to $10,000. To qualify, owners were required to illustrate that they suffered a loss of revenue of at least 25% directly related to the pandemic. Many of the business that received grant funding had been shut down by executive orders or have been operating at reduced capacity.
Grant recipients are using the money to offset business losses caused by the pandemic. Qualifying expenditures include rent or mortgage payments, utilities, inventory, personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning protocols, and upgrades designed to limit person-to-person contact. Each business that receives a grant must also submit a final report detailing how it spent the funds.
“We are pleased to see that this money is being put to good use in our community,” says Talbot County Council President Corey Pack. “It’s important that we reinvest in our businesses during these unprecedented times.”
The Talbot County Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Talbot County Finance Office together are administering the program. “Economic stability is one of the pillars of a vibrant, healthy community,” says Director Cassandra Vanhooser. “We are doing everything we can to help Talbot County’s businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic.”
An online application form can be found at TalbotWorks.org, along with information about other business resources. For more information about Talbot County’s COVID-19 response, visit TalbotCOVID19.org or on Facebook @Talbot County COVID 19.