COVID-19 CARES SMALL Business Assistance Program

THIS PROGRAM APPLICATION PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED

Small Business Assistance

The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has deemed assistance to small businesses that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 business interruptions a necessary response to the public health emergency. The Monroe County BOCC has created the Monroe County CARES Business Assistance Program to distribute a portion (up to $1 million) of the County's initial award of CARES Act funds for grants to eligible, local, small businesses who have suffered from business interruptions, required or voluntary closures, reduced demand or increased expenditures, or other hardships resulting from the COVD-19 public health emergency or related Executive Orders issued by Governor Ron DeSantis or other state agencies (“Executive Orders”). 

Funding for Businesses with 25 Employees or Less

The Monroe County CARES Business Assistance Program consists of a one-time fixed amount grant to qualifying Monroe County-based small businesses with up to 25 employees to aid in their recovery from the COVID-19 public health emergency and related business interruptions. The grants are targeted specifically to help local businesses, with 25 employees or less, located in Monroe County.

The fixed amounts will be based on the number of the applicant's employees as of February 29, 2020. The definition of an employee includes the owner of the business plus any person that is employed full-time, part-time, or on a seasonal basis by the grant applicant. The grant amounts, based on the number of employees, are as follows:

  • Self-Employed, Sole Proprietors (1 employee): $2,500
  •  2 - 10 employees: $5,000
  • 11 - 25 employees: $7,500

Please note, under Chapter 119, Fla. Stat., information included in this application and any documentation submitted as part of the application or throughout the application process may be subject to public records requests. Please mark financial information as confidential. 

Application Details

Fill out this application completely and attach all required documents. Failure to submit a complete application with required documents attached, or failure to submit any additional supporting documents requested may result in your application being delayed or denied.

Required Documents

Do not start the application without having all required documents ready to attach or your online application may not save properly and you will have to begin again. 

Additional supporting documents including, but not limited to, bank statements, financial statements or information, receipts, and other financial documents. Any additional documents requested must be provided. The documentation needed can be found in the required document to read: CARES Program Guidance & Frequently Asked Questions. 

You must read the document “Monroe County CARES Program and Guidance” prior to completing the application. There is important information and guidance that will be helpful in determining your business’ eligibility to apply, understanding the rules and regulations guiding these funds and compliance requirements of applicants. 

Here are links to two of the required documents:

YOU MUST READ THIS

Please read this entire document before applying. It will answer frequently asked questions and let applicants know what required documents are needed, as well as other things.