Small Business Grant Program (CARES)
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Flagler County will invest a total of $10 million into the Small Business Grant Program to provide emergency financial support for qualified small businesses. The program will target small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to orders to close or limit operations. Funds are available as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act federal stimulus package.
The Program will allow small businesses access to grant money to help cover business expenses, including employee wages, mortgage, rent, vendor invoices, utility bills, payroll and other costs to help offset the financial impact due to business interruption or closures as a result of COVID-19. An applicant may be asked to provide additional documentation to demonstrate a loss of revenue upon further review. Any application from a business that was forced to shut down due to a Governors Executive Order, will be processed first. Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis until the funds are depleted.
Funding will be made available to a limited number of small businesses that meet specific requirements set by the Flagler County CARES Small Business Grant Program. Applicants that received funding from any other program such as PPP and EIDL, may still apply however any funds received cannot be duplicated. A qualified small businesses that can attest that they were negatively impacted by COVID-19 include funding levels for those as follows:
- Tier I: Sole Proprietor $3,000
- Tier II: Businesses with 2-12 Full Time Equivalent Employees $7,500
- Tier III: Businesses with 13-25 Full Time Equivalent Employees $15,000
- Tier IV: Businesses with 26-50 Full Time Equivalent Employees $35,000
- Tier V: Businesses with 51-100 Full Time Equivalent Employees $50,000
The grant is targeted specifically to help local small businesses with a principal location in Flagler County established prior to March 1, 2020. All applicants will be required to affirm and upload relevant business documents to be considered for the program including a signed affidavit. A copy of the affidavit can be found HERE.
Home-based businesses and 501(c)(3) non-profits with required documentation are included in the program.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
▼ Step 1: Check for Eligibility
Eligible Small Businesses and 501(c)(3)
Small business applicants must attest they:- Business must be physically located in Flagler County.
- Must have been registered with the Florida Division of Corporations , hold a Florida Occupational License if applicable and held a County and/or City BTR prior to March 1, 2020 and have a total of 100 employees or less, including owners.
- Must be physically located in Flagler County
- Must have received their Florida Consumer Certificate of Exemption prior to Mar 1, 2020.
- Currently hold an annual lease agreement prior to March 1, 2020 or a mortgage statement or deed.
Ineligible Businesses
- Businesses with more than 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees: Flagler County has limited funding. Small businesses tend to be in a more precarious financial condition. The County intends to preserve and promote small local businesses.
- Publicly traded companies: These firms are owned by the stockholders, who may not be local residents and are not involved in the day to day operations of the company.
- Businesses without a Current/Active Municipal, when required, and/or County Local Business Tax Receipt as of March 1, 2020.
- Businesses that have had their license revoked, or been subject to enforcement action due to failure to follow an executive, emergency, or public health rule, regulation, or order.
- Businesses with unpaid code enforcement liens prior to March 1, 2020 against them.
- Businesses which caused the imposition of a property lien on their leasor’s property prior to March 1, 2020.
- Businesses with open/active code enforcement cases prior to March 1, 2020.
- Businesses with an owner, officer, partner, or principal actor who has a felony conviction for financial mismanagement within the last two years for which he or she is still serving a sentence (including prison, parole, and probation).
Business owners will need the following documents before they fill out the application:
- A current County and/or City Business Tax Receipt (BTR) that was active prior to March 1, 2020
- Documentation from the Florida Division of Corporations (www.sunbiz.org) or a Florida Occupational License. A screen shot from the website shall prove sufficient.
- A current County and/or City Business Tax Receipt (BTR) that was active prior to March 1, 2020. The Review Team will be able to verify in lieu of business being able to provide and access a copy to upload.
- Active Proof of Name Filing with the Florida Department of Corporations (Sunbiz.org) or a Florida Occupational License if applicable.
- RT-6 for the fourth quarter of 2019 or first quarter of 2020- 1099 contractors will not be considered employees since the business does not pay Florida State Reemployment Tax
- Florida Consumer Certificate of Exemption issued prior to March 1, 2020.
- With employees: Florida Form RT-6 or Form 990 or 941 for the fourth quarter of 2019 or first quarter of 2020. This form will determine appropriate funding level
- 1099 contractors will not be considered employees since the business does not pay Florida State Reemployment Tax.
- Without employees: Organization must provide one of the following- a signed annual lease agreement, mortgage statement or deed prior to March 1, 2020. The funding level for this category is by default $3,000.00
▼ Step 2: Complete the Application
▼ Step 3: Application Review
▼ Step 4: Notice to Applicant
▼ Step 5: Processing and Distribution
Accepted applications will be processed within fourteen (14 days) upon receipt, pending any additional information that may be needed.
Applicant will be notified via email when their check is ready for pick up. Checks can be picked up on designated days at:
Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches Tourism Office
120 Airport Road, Suite 3
Palm Coast, FL 32164
At that time, the applicant will sign an affidavit that a Flagler County representative will notarize upon distributing the check. A copy of the afadavit can be found HERE.
▼ Frequently Asked Questions
Only a 501(c)(3) is eligible and must provide all the required documentation.
Yes, if the business has a physical address in Flagler County.
Small businesses approved for the grant will receive a one-time payment based upon the number of full-time equivalent employees. Please refer to the funding chart in the program overview.
Business owners will need the following documents before they fill out the application:
- A current County and/or City Business Tax Receipt (BTR) that was active prior to March 1, 2020
- Documentation from the Florida Division of Corporations (www.sunbiz.org) or a Florida Occupational License. A screen shot from the website shall prove sufficient.
- A current County and/or City Business Tax Receipt (BTR) that was active prior to March 1, 2020. The Review Team will be able to verify in lieu of business being able to provide and access a copy to upload.
- Active Proof of Name Filing with the Florida Department of Corporations (Sunbiz.org) or a Florida Occupational License if applicable.
- RT-6 for the fourth quarter of 2019 or first quarter of 2020- 1099 contractors will not be considered employees since the business does not pay Florida State Reemployment Tax
- Florida Consumer Certificate of Exemption issued prior to March 1, 2020.
- With employees: Florida Form RT-6 or Form 990 or 941 for the fourth quarter of 2019 or first quarter of 2020. This form will determine appropriate funding level.
- 1099 contractors will not be considered employees since the business does not pay Florida State Reemployment Tax.
- Without employees: Organization must provide one of the following- a signed annual lease agreement, mortgage statement or deed prior to March 1, 2020. The funding level for this category is by default $3,000.00
Business owners can find the most recent filing for their active state business registration from the Florida Division of Corporations by searching the full, legal business name.
If your business is not required to register with the Florida Division of Corporations, other documents may include certification from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, certification from the Department of Health, and a business tax receipt from applicable jurisdiction.
Funds will cover normal business expenses, such as employee wages, vendor bills and rent to help offset the significant temporary loss of revenue to qualified small businesses however any funds already received through other programs cannot be duplicated.
No. Small businesses will not have to pay back the grant.
The funds for the Flagler County Small Business Grant Program are part of the County’s Federal CARES Act funding.
A review committee will evaluate the applicant’s documents for eligibility. Any applications that are incomplete at the time of review, will be notified and asked to provide any missing or incorrect documentation. The application will be pending a second review upon receipt of the correct documentation.
After you submit your application, you will see a confirmation screen with a reference number for your application. We recommend you make a copy of the confirmation screen for your records.
Flagler County is committed to protecting your personal information against unauthorized use or disclosure. The system is PCI-DSS, HIPAA, CJIS and SOC 1, 2 & 3 compliant.
You may call 386-437-7285 or email: CARESBusinessGrant@flaglercounty.org
Yes, however any funds already received through other programs cannot be duplicated. For example, if you received funding through the PPP, then you cannot use these funds for payroll. You must use them on other incurred costs.
Any application from a business that was forced to shut down due to a Governors Executive Order, will be processed first. Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis until the funds are depleted.
No, only online applications will be accepted.
Yes. Draft mode will automatically save your answers locally in your browser. You can resume the survey at a later time, but it will need to be on that same computer/device.
Please print a copy of your application before you hit submit.
Accepted applications will be processed within fourteen (14 days) upon receipt, pending any additional information that may be needed. Applicant will be notified via email when their check is ready for pick up.
Checks will be distributed on Friday’s and can be picked up at:
Palm Coast and the Flagler Beach Tourist Development Office
120 Airport Road, Suite 3
Palm Coast, FL 32164
Applicant will be notified via email when their check is ready for pick up.
Checks can be picked up on designated days at:
Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches Tourism Office
120 Airport Road, Suite 3
Palm Coast, FL 32164
At that time, a valid drivers license will be requires and the applicant will sign an affidavit that a Flagler County representative will notarize upon distributing the check. A copy of the affidavit can be found HERE.
Flagler County will disburse the funds as quickly as possible based on the current volume of applications received. We anticipate the average turnaround time will be approximately three to four weeks after your application has been submitted.
You will need to sign an Affidavit which will be notarized on site. A copy of the Affidavit can be found here.