The City of Aurora is launching the Aurora Small Business Grant Rescue Program to provide $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act grant funding to Aurora small businesses.
Donor Name: City of Aurora
State: Colorado
City: Aurora
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/15/2022
Size of the Grant: up to $10,000
Details:
In response to the community’s feedback and with guidance from the Aurora City Council, the city of Aurora is allocating a portion of its federally allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding toward support of businesses in Aurora.
Funding Information
- For small businesses that existed in March 2020 or earlier, funds of up to $10,000 per eligible applicant may be used to support working capital, daily operations, tenant finish, inventory, payroll or equipment.
- For pandemic startups that began operating anytime from April 2020 through December 2021, funds of up to $5,000 per eligible applicant may be used for start-up capital, operations, tenant finish, inventory or equipment related to small business start-up costs.
Eligibility Criteria
- For small businesses that existed in March 2020 or earlier, funds of up to $10,000 per eligible applicant may be used to support working capital, daily operations, tenant finish, inventory, payroll or equipment. Applicants who qualify must meet one of these reasons for applying: have not been able to return to pre-pandemic levels of sales/number of customers, have not been able to fully re-staff, have been impacted by supply chain issues or have shifted their business model in response to the pandemic.
- For pandemic startups that began operating anytime from April 2020 through December 2021, funds of up to $5,000 per eligible applicant may be used for start-up capital, operations, tenant finish, inventory or equipment related to small business start-up costs. Applicants who qualify will must meet one of these reasons for starting a new business: may have been laid off due to the pandemic, created a product or service in response to the pandemic, shifted business model in response to the pandemic, or expanded services to another geographic location.
- Existing Small Businesses:
- Must be in business since March 2020 or prior
- Registered with the Secretary of State/Certificate of Good
- Standing evidenced back to March 2020 or prior
- Valid business license and current sales taxes
- Business address in Aurora
- Net revenue of $350,000 or less (sales might be high, but costs have increased so much that the business is not making money or is losing money)
- Gross revenues up to $5 million
- Minimum one employee and no more than 100 combined full-time and part-time employees in 2021
- Pandemic Startups: Eligibility Requirements
- Must be functioning as a legitimate business for at least six months (starting January 2021)
- Must be registered with the Secretary of State/Certificate of Good Standing evidenced back to Jan. 1, 2021 (if the business is not registered with the Secretary of State or does not have a business license with the city of Aurora, the business owner is urged to get one as soon as possible to be considered for a grant)
- Must have valid business license and current sales taxes
- Business representative must show lawful presence (i.e. valid government-issued identification)
- Must have business address in Aurora
- Minimum one employee (includes owner; single-member LLC owners will be considered)Self-certification of the impact the pandemic had on the business and cite reasons for funding need.
For more information, visit City of Aurora.