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Small Business Rapid Relief Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

The City of Newcastle is committed to supporting its small business community and facilitating a successful recovery from the impacts inflicted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. That’s why the City has established the Newcastle Small Business Rapid Relief Program, providing emergency grants to assist small businesses adversely impacted by COVID-19.

The City distributed $70,000 worth of grants to our community during the first round. With additional funding now available, the City is re-opening the application process to new businesses. Businesses who received funding in the first round do not need to re-apply. They will still be considered for additional funding. This emergency program will provide working capital grants – in amounts generally limited to about $5,000 – to small, locally-owned businesses that meet specific criteria as detailed below. 

This program is managed by the City of Newcastle with assistance from the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

1. Review all eligibility requirements, eligible expenses and ineligible expenses listed in the drop-down menus below. If you qualify, please submit your application electronically by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23.

2. After receiving all applications, the City of Newcastle will determine whether the business meets all minimum criteria and the application is complete.

3. A Selection Committee will review the applications to determine the amount of the grant to be funded, if any.

4. Grant recipients will be notified in early September and will then be required to enter into a Grant Agreement with the City which may require the filing of a report on how the funds were spent.

1. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To apply, businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a current Newcastle business with a valid Newcastle business license and a brick-and-mortar storefront

• Locally owned and managed from the greater Puget Sound area with local decision-making authority

• Must have no more than 25 full-time employees

• Ability to demonstrate loss of income due to COVID-19

• Must be a business in good standing (for example, have current Newcastle business license; City taxes and fees paid; current on all State and regulatory requirements; not facing pending litigation or legal action, including Newcastle code enforcement)

2. ELIGIBLE EXPENSES

Eligible business expenses for this grant are limited to the following types of expenditures:

• Payment of rent or required monthly loan payments

• Payments of regular wages, taxes, and typical benefits to employees (e.g., health insurance, paid vacation sick leave essential to maintain operations, but only to the extent those wages, taxes and benefits have not been reimbursed by other federal, state or regional grants or loans)

• Payment for personal protective equipment, sanitizer, disinfectant, or other supplies, equipment or physical changes (e.g., plexiglass barriers, or other furnishings to accommodate physical distancing) necessary for the protection of public health or the health of business or organization owners or employees in relation to the COVID-19 emergency

• Typical operating costs and expenses, including those set forth on an income statement, as a regular, ongoing cost of operating the business.

• Typical draw or wages on a regular interval to owner, provided such draws or wages are consistent with those paid in previous intervals, quarters or years.

• Eligible expenses must be within the time period of March 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020.

3. INELIGIBLE EXPENSES

Businesses cannot use the grant for the following expenses:

• Expenses considered ineligible business expenses by IRS rules

• Political contributions

• Bonuses to owners or employees

• Wages to any member of owner’s family who is not a bona fide employee

• Charitable contributions

• Gifts or parties

• Draw or salary to the business owner that exceeds the amount that they were paid on a weekly or monthly basis for the same period in the prior year

• Pay down or pay off of debt by more than required in underlying debt instrument

• Any expenses related to activities prohibited under COVID-19 guidelines, state, federal, or local law.

• Damages covered by insurance

• Severance pay

• Legal settlements

• Expenses that have been or will be reimbursed under any federal, state or regional program (i.e. Payroll Protection Program) are not eligible

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION:

After you've reviewed all of the items above, please fill out the application below to apply for a grant through the Newcastle Small Business Rapid Relief Program. Fields marked with a * are required. If you have any questions or need assistance filling out your application, please email [email protected].

Small Business Rapid Relief Program Application

Business Information

*Business name:   

*Date business established: 

*Address:  

*City:  

*ZIP Code: 

*Business owner name: 

*Business owner email: 

*Business owner phone number: 

*Business owner address (Street, City, ZIP): 

*Do you have a current, valid Newcastle business license (please specify yes or no): 

*Business License Number: 

*Current number of employees, including yourself: 

*Do you certify that you are current on all state and local taxes, licenses and other applicable regulatory requirements to operate in the City of Newcastle? (please specify yes or no): 

*Is your business facing pending legal litigation or legal action; including Newcastle code enforcement? (please specify yes or no): 

Is your business? (check all that apply): Women-owned Minority-owned Veteran-owned

*Industry sector (select one): 

Restaurant/Food Services

Exercise/Fitness

Health Care

Personal Care (salons, etc.)

Retail

Other

COVID-19 Impacts on Your Business

*How has COVID-19 impacted your business to date? (check all that apply):

 My business revenue significantly decreased 

 I've had to lay off employee(s) 

 My business closed temporarily due to the Governor's proclamation 

I had to reduce payroll expenses (health insurance, retirement benefits, etc.) 

I had to reduce or suspend lease/mortgage payments for my business location 

None of the above

*Please estimate your total (gross) revenue impact comparing March-June 2019 and March-June of 2020 (write N/A if you have been in business less than a year):

March-June 2019 total (gross revenue):  

March-June 2020 total (gross revenue): 

*If you've been in business for less than a year, please estimate your total (gross) revenue impact comparing what you anticipated collecting March-June under normal circumstances, to the real gross revenue you collected March-June 2020 (write N/A if you have been in business more than a year):

Estimating normal conditions | March-June 2020 total (gross revenue):  

Actual | March-June 2020 total (gross revenue): 

*Number of employees laid off due to COVID-19 impacts. If none, write N/A: 

Will this grant help you retain jobs? If so, how many? 

*Likelihood of permanently closing business without grant funding? (Please specify low, medium or high): 

*Describe the effect of the public health crisis on your business and how allocated funds can help:

*Explain how this grant will be used to help you recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic: 

*Has your business received any state, federal, or other grants or loans during the COVID-19 crisis (example: Paycheck Protection Program loan)? If yes, please provide details. Write N/A if not applicable:

*Did you apply for PPP or other loans and were unsuccessful in applying? If yes, please provide details. Write N/A if not applicable:

*Please describe how your business/organization has participated in the Newcastle community (such as supporting local events, charities, etc.):

Is there anything else you would like to share?:



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