HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — More than $100 million dollars of relief aid is available for small businesses in Hillsborough County beginning Monday, July 13.
This is part of Phase 2 of the county-wide Rapid Relief Recovery program. Director of Economic Development for Hillsborough County, Lindsay Kimball said Phase 1 has already shown to be a success for business owners who have suffered from the pandemic.
"We've been rolling out Phase 1 already for two weeks. We've been involved in the program roll-out. We've gotten great feedback. We've had a grateful and excited business owner who says this is going to go a long way to get them on their feet," Kimball said.
To qualify, small business owners have to have been deemed non-essential when they were forced to close as a result of COVID-19 and they have to have reopened in some form.
"Eligible businesses are those who were forced to close or were deemed non-essential. So the bowling alleys, the youth sports camp, people who operate barbershops and hair salons," Kimball said.
There are three programs business owners can apply for.
They include:
- Kickstart Small Business - up to $10,000 in working capital, for businesses with up to $1 million in annual revenue
- Back to Work - up to $2,000 per employee in payroll incentives to hire or rehire workers, for businesses with up to $5 million in annual revenue
- Safe at Work - up to $10,000 matching reimbursement for the cost of qualifying workplace improvements directly related to mitigating the spread of COVID-19, for businesses with up to $5 million in annual revenue
Business owners can only receive funds from one of the three programs.
County leaders said the funds can help about 9,000 businesses within Hillsborough County.
Phase 3, which the county is already in the process of launching in about two weeks, will help around 4,000 additional businesses.
For more information on which program is best for your company and how to apply click here.
Residents can also call Hillsborough County Economic Recovery Financial Assistance Support Line at (888) 393-7509 weekdays between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
