Centennial CARES: Small Business Grants

CARES-Grant

UPDATE: The City is still accepting applications for Centennial CARES: Small Business Grants. Starting Monday, August 3 we will begin accepting applications from home-based businesses and businesses licensed prior to March 1, 2020.

The Centennial CARES: Small Business Grants are intended to help small businesses in Centennial who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with reopening and adapting to COVID-19 compliance requirements. In partnership with Arapahoe County, Centennial’s City Council has directed $5 million of City funding to be used to support our small business community.

Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received.

A maximum of $30,000 can be awarded per eligible non-home-based business. 

A maximum of $2,500 can be awarded per eligible home-based business.

If you have questions or need more information, send us an e-mail.

Please note when filling out the application: 

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  • We do not recommend applying via an iPad.
  • Please turn-off autofill in your browser before starting the application.
  • .png files are not recommended for documentation upload.

Required documents:

  • When filling out your W-9 please check to make sure the form has saved your information before uploading(link below under Process tab).
  • When uploading Revenue Loss documentation please include calculations showing the required revenue loss of 25% or more. (Revenue Loss example below under Process tab)
  • When uploading receipts and invoices for reimbursement please include a cover sheet with a list of individual amounts and total amount requested for reimbursement.

Apply Here

Application CLOSES:

  • The application process will be open until funds are depleted or grant program changes are required.
  • Program updates will be sent via email to those signed up to receive the Centennial Business Monthly e-newsletter, Click here to sign up.

Details on Grants, Eligibility & How to Prepare:

Grants

Grant Programs  Amount
 1. Business Interruption Grant

$10,000

$2,500 (Home-Based)

Business Interruption Grants will be provided to eligible businesses for business operation expenses including, but not limited to, lease/mortgage, payroll, inventory, and supplies/equipment necessary to operate the business (may include personal protective equipment).

  

Grant Award: Business Interruption Grants will be awarded at an amount up to $10,000.

HOME-BASED BUSINESS GRANT AWARD: Business Interruption Grants for home-based businesses will be awarded at an amount up to $2,500.

  
 2. Business Infrastructure and PPE Grant Up to $20,000

Business Infrastructure and PPE Grants will be provided to eligible businesses for expense incurred or planned to facilitate compliance with public health orders. Expenditures may include, but are not limited to, building and property modifications, touchless payment systems, online ordering platforms, personal protective equipment, and safety training.

Businesses may submit receipts and invoices for reimbursement for expenses that have been incurred to facilitate compliance with public health orders. Businesses may also submit plans and estimates for planned expenditures to receive grant funds in advance. Businesses requesting advance grant funds will be required to provide proof of expenditure within 30 days of grant award.

  

Grant Award: Business Infrastructure and PPE Grants will be awarded for up to $20,000.

HOME-BASED BUSINESSES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE AND PPE GRANT.

  
 Combined Maximum Grant Amount

$30,000

$2,500 (Home-based)

Eligibility and Prohibited Use of Funds

Business Eligibility Requirements:

  • Currently licensed with the City of Centennial
  • Business license issued no later than March 1, 2020
  • Physical address within Centennial
  • Business is in good standing with the City of Centennial (tax returns, code violations, etc.)
  • For-profit, privately-held business
  • 1-100 full-time equivalent Full Time Employees (FTE) positions prior to COVID-19 pandemic
  • Business has been forced to temporarily close or forced to dramatically limit operations due to the Public Health Orders related to the COVID-19 public health crisis
  • Able to demonstrate economic injury of 25 percent or more in revenue loss during the COVID-19 pandemic and a need for a grant to help mitigate the economic injury
  • Able to provide a total estimate of current and anticipated business losses (revenue and other losses) due to the pandemic.

The following list of business types are not eligible:

  • National chains (exception: locally owned franchises may qualify)
  • Publicly-traded companies
  • Businesses deriving more than one-third of gross annual revenue from legal gambling activities
  • Businesses engaged in any illegal activity
  • Marijuana (medical and recreational)
  • Sexually-oriented businesses

Prohibited uses of funds:

  • Any expense not be considered an eligible business expense by IRS rules (IRS Publication 535)
  • Wages to any member of owner’s family who is not a bona fide employee
  • Charitable contributions
  • Political contributions
  • Draw or salary to owner that exceeded the amount they were paid on a weekly or monthly basis for the same period last year
  • Pay down or pay off debt by more than required in underlying debt instrument
  • Expenses that were previously paid for using Federal Small Business Administration (SBA) Payroll Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Funds
  • Franchise or royalty fees

Process and Information to Prepare for Application

Process:

  • Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received.
  • Applicants will receive an email notification once they have successfully completed the application.

Information Required to Complete Application:

  • Centennial business license number

- See an example of a Centennial Business License(PDF, 96KB).
- If you need help locating your business license number call 303-325-8088 or email us at salestax@centennialco.gov.

  • Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN or EIN or typically located on tax returns)
  • Revenue loss documentation (upload document in application): Show us how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your revenues. Business must show revenue impact of 25% or greater in order to be eligible.

Business can provide a simple spreadsheet or word document showing revenue impact. Examples (show one of the following):

- 2020 projected revenues compared to actual revenues
- 2019 March-May revenues compared to 2020 March-May revenues
- Submit multiple-year average compared to 2020
- Business may choose to show an alternate time period to demonstrate revenue loss.

* See an example of revenue loss documentation(XLSX, 9KB).

  • Number of full-time equivalent employees prior to COVID-19 pandemic (enter number in application)
  • Business Infrastructure and PPE Grants

- Receipts or invoices for qualifying expenses (upload documents in application)
- Estimates and description of planned expenses that you are requesting for Advance grant funds (upload documents in application) Note: Businesses receiving Advance grant funds will be required to provide documentation of actual expenditures

  • Estimate of total current and anticipated business losses (revenue and other losses) due to the pandemic (enter dollar amount in application)
  • Applicants will be required to review and accept the Terms and Conditions(PDF, 142KB) of the Centennial CARES Small Business Grant Program to complete the application.
  • ACH information will be obtained via secure email once grants are approved.
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