Funding

• Federal funding made possible through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
• Total pool: $200,000
• Maximum award: $15,000
• Minimum award: $500
• Funding requests must be tied directly to necessary expenses that address the business impacts created by the COVID-19 crisis including capital health and safety improvements or expansions that support social distancing
• This grant is 100% reimbursable; funds will be issued up front based on submitted budgets, project justification, and demonstrated tie to COVID-19

Eligible Applicants

• Locally owned, for-profit business
• Applications from nonprofit organizations (such as a business association, chamber of commerce, neighborhood association, or similar) that support our small business community will be considered on a case-by-case basis (ex: a business association may apply for necessary district-wide interventions that address COVID-19 impacts that will directly benefit eligible businesses that are located within their service area)
• Located anywhere within the City of Dayton
• Businesses must not be part of a national chain, unless the business is a third-party franchise
• Street-level retailers, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, salons, and barbers
• Have started operating prior to March 27, 2020

Eligible Costs

• Expenses must be incurred by November 20, 2020
• Necessary capital costs associated with altering operational spaces to accommodate new social distancing requirements due to the COVID-19 crisis
• An example list of eligible expenses is included here
• Required capital expenses may include physical improvements that will allow local businesses to meet new health and safety requirements due to the COVID-19 crisis including new permanent outdoor eating areas, temporary installations (such as a pop-up patio), and/or rental equipment or furniture to furnish new spaces
• Ineligible expenses include operational costs such as rent/mortgage payments, payroll, personal protection equipment, etc.

Application Window

• Application window opens August 26th, 2020 at 8 am EDT and will close on September 25th at 5 pm EDT

Application requirements and required materials

• Completed application form
• Completed budget
• One PDF package of all backup materials for your submitted budget including copies of estimates, quotes, pictures, etc 
• If your project requires a Pop-Up Patio permit, you may upload your full permit application to the application site. Payment for Pop-Up application fees may be mailed to the department indicated in the Pop-Up Patio application guide.
• Upload completed Tax Disclosure Release Form
• Upload completed City of Dayton Vendor Registration Form and W9
• Upload a copy of your business’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) written policy. If your business does not have an EEO written policy, you must complete the City of Dayton’s Affirmative Action Assurance Application prior to receiving grant funds. For more information on the City’s AAA process, contact Lez’Lee Gerren at (937) 333-1403 or lezlee.Gerren@daytonohio.gov and reference the CARES Act Small Business Capital Grant program.
• Certificate of Good Standing
• (If applicable) Montgomery County Health District Food Vending License
• (If applicable) Articles of Incorporation

Review Process

• Grant decisions will be made as quickly as possible.
• Upon hitting the “submit” button on the application website, a confirmation page will appear; save or print a copy of this page for your records.
• A notification email will be sent to the applicant within one business day of submission of a complete application package.
• Applications will be screened by City staff for eligibility and will be reviewed by an Evaluation Committee composed of City staff from the Departments of Management & Budget, Economic Development, and Planning and Community Development.
• Grants will be awarded based on the following award criteria: 
  • Level of detail provided in the application (1-5)
  • Appropriateness of cost and justification for budget items (1-10)
  • Overall Community Impact including:
    • Geographic location (1-5)
    • The businesses community involvement and social consciousness (0-2)
    • Support to minority and disadvantaged business owners (0-2)
  • Ability to meet the required deadline of November 20 to spend funding. (1-5)
• Applications will be considered on their merit and priority will be given to applicants who score higher on the award criteria. Applications that score lower than 12 will not be considered for a grant award.
• Grant award notifications will be sent to applicants via email within 1 week of receipt of a complete application. 
• If an applicant’s grant request is not awarded, they will be notified within the same window of time and may be eligible to reapply. Applicants should outreach to Susan Vincent at susan.vincent@daytonohio.gov or (937) 333-3683 to discuss why their application was denied and if a re-submission would be appropriate.

How do I receive my funding?

• The City will process up-front grant payments based on the budget submitted.
• Grant funds will be processed 3 weeks after notifications are issued and will be mailed to the address listed on the application.

Post-Award Process

• Upon completion of funded improvements, an email should be sent to Susan Vincent from the Planning and Community Development Department at susan.vincent@daytonohio.gov to schedule an inspection
• Grant recipients must retain detailed records of their expenditures for 5 years to meet CARES Coronavirus Relief Act audit requirements
• Grantees must submit a final report that includes a record of the payments made with grant funds including detailed receipts. Final reports are due by November 20
  • Completed grant report form
  • Pictures of final installations/improvements
  • Copies of original detailed receipts/itemized, contracts signed for construction, final invoices paid, etc. proving funds were spent on eligible expenses must be included with final report.
  • Copies of permits received