Businesses impacted by COVID-19 are encouraged to look into private sector funding opportunities and resources that may be available to you and your business to help you stay afloat and meet short-term business needs during this pandemic. Additional resources will be added as they become available, so please check back.
Grants and Loan Programs
Brevard County Small Business Grant
The Brevard County Board of Commissioners authorized the use of federal CARES Act funding for operating a short-term economic relief program for small businesses dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is expected to provide those local businesses with the opportunity to apply for a one-time-only grant – in an amount not to exceed $10,000 – while program funding exists. If you are interested in applying for this grant, please go to
www.brevardfl.gov beginning this Monday, July 27
th. Once on the landing page at the county’s website, click on the icon labeled “Brevard CARES Resources.” Applications will only be accepted during a two-week period, beginning July 27, so you are advised to apply quickly. There is also a list of
Frequently Asked Questions about the program and a direct link to the
application portal. Brevard Workforce Recovery Assistance Program
CareerSource Brevard, in partnership with the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners, is pleased to announce a NEW Workforce Recovery Assistance Program, available to Brevard’s small businesses (fewer than 50 employees) impacted by COVID-19. Bring valued employees back to work – we’ve got their pay covered for up to 16 weeks! Limited wage funds are available for this assistance program and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis with applications being accepted through July 31, 2020. Learn more
here.
The second program is one established to keep businesses open and running by providing them with personal protective equipment kits needed to keep their employees and customers safe and healthy. Small businesses that employ 25 or fewer employees are eligible to apply for a kit that contains 200 procedure masks, 25 reusable cloth masks, 2 boxes of gloves (200 gloves), and 2 (8 oz.) bottles of hand sanitizer. Distribution of the kits will be the week of August 3, 2020. For more information on this program and to apply, visit
https://www.brevardfl.gov/BrevardCARES.
SOBEWFF® & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Relief Fund
The SOBEWFF® & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Relief Fund awards grants of up to $15,000 per business ($500 per employee) to independently owned restaurants and bars in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. For more information and to apply, click here.
Jacksonville Businesses Small Business Relief and Employee Retention Grant Program
In partnership with VyStar Credit Union, the City of Jacksonville’s COVID-19 Small Business Relief and Employee Retention Grant program will provide low-cost loans with less stringent underwriting requirements and flexible repayment terms. Maximum loan amounts are $100,000 with a fixed interest rate of 5.99%. Loan approval and funding should take place in 3-5 days. To apply, interested businesses and nonprofits should visit VyStarCU.org/CoronaVirus and fill out the application.
Orange County’s Small Business Grant Program
Orange County’s Small Business Grant Program will invest $72.9 million into Orange County small businesses. The Program will allow approximately 6,500 qualifying small businesses access to $10,000 in grant money to cover normal business expenses, including employee wages, vendor bills, and rent to help offset the temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19. Federal Cares Act provides the funding for this County program. The application period opens June 8, 2020. For a full list of criteria and required documents, click here.
