Recognizing the negative impact that COVID-19 has had on small businesses, the Lafayette County Commission has established a grant-relief program in order to assist during these difficult times.
A news release says the commission has tried to make this an easy process, requiring a short application and receipts.
Lafayette County has received Coronavirus Relief Funds to distribute to eligible entities for necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency. Funds may only be used to cover costs that:
•Are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19); and
•Were incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020, and ends on December 30, 2020.
The requirement that expenditures be incurred “due to” the public health emergency means that expenditures must be used for actions taken to respond to the public health emergency.
Program Eligibility
The program funds will be allocated to eligible and qualified small businesses based on availability. Applications and supporting documentation are required for review and approval. All grants will be processed on a first-come, first-review basis to qualified applicants. To be eligible, businesses must meet several requirements:
•Must be a for-profit, independently-owned business or independently-operated franchise, geographically located within the borders of Lafayette County;
•Must possess a current city, county and state license or permit to operate, as applicable;
•Must employ between one and 10 full-time or part-time employees, including the owner;
•Must provide proof of a business hardship created by COVID-19 (i.e. employee layoffs, purchase of added safety items, added expenses due to COVID-19, etc.);
•Must use funds for operational needs, such as employee expenses, lease/mortgage payments, utilities, materials, supplies and services;
•Must be in compliance with local, state and federal nondiscrimination policies, and overall good standing with city and county service providers as of February 1, 2020 (e.g., current on utility bills, no liens or judgments, and prior year(s) property taxes, state and federal taxes); and
•Must not have taken a Paycheck Protection Program loan or similar program under the CARES Act.
Revenue replacement is not a permissible use of fund payments.
If your business is within the city limits of Odessa, Higginsville, Lexington or Concordia, you are urged to submit the form to the applicable city. The commission is asking the cities to complete their part and forward the application to the county. If the business is in Bates City, Lake Lafayette, Napoleon, Wellington, Mayview, Dover, Emma, Alma or Waverly, or in unincorporated Lafayette County, the form needs to be submitted by e-mail, fax or mail to: COVID@LafayetteCountyMo.com; Lafayette County Clerk, 1001 Main St., Lexington, MO 64067; or Fax: (660) 259-6109. Any business in the unincorporated areas of Lafayette County must be in compliance with the Land Development Code adopted 2016.
Several business types will not be considered eligible to request assistance under the relief program:
•Lending and investment institutions;
•Sporting venues;
•Nonprofit entities; and
•Corporately Owned Chain Stores.
Nonexclusive examples of ineligible expenditures:
•Expenses for the State share of Medicaid;
•Damages covered by insurance;
•Payroll or benefits expenses for employees whose work duties are not substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency;
•Expenses that have been, or will be reimbursed under any federal program, such as the reimbursement by the federal government pursuant to the CARES Act of contributions by states to state unemployment funds;
•Reimbursement to donors for donated items or services;
•Workforce bonuses, other than hazard pay or overtime;
•Severance pay; or
•Legal settlements.
For questions and information, contact the county commission at (660) 259-4315.
Full-CARES-Application