City of Apple Valley / EDA Small Business Grant

Apply Starting Today Through August 31st
APPLE VALLEY CHAMBER NOTE: TODAY IS THE 1ST DAY TO APPLY. IT IS NOT 1ST COME, 1ST SERVE SO YOUR SCORE MATTERS, NOT SPEED.

Our Chamber testified at several City meetings with the EDA and Council the last two weeks to help refine some aspects of this fantastic program. This money is from the federal CARES ACT money to cities, counties and towns. Apple Valley received $4,020,000 and has generously reserved $400,000 for business grants. That amount may increase later but they wanted to get the first certain wave out immediately. 

You can look at the application fully without applying so take a minute to do so. It is just a few mostly multiple choice questions. Priority is given to certain categories of businesses. A total number of points are awarded based on your answers. It is really simple. The application also shows very clearly numerous examples of what you can and cannot use as a COVID-related expense. Those chosen will be given the grant the 1st week of September. The CARES Act requires cities only award for COVID-related expenditures which are audited by the feds at the end of the year so the City criteria is mandated by federal law and is therefore very strict.  
Grant Overview
The City of Apple Valley recognizes that many businesses have been impacted by COVID-19. To assist businesses, the City of Apple Valley has allocated $400,000 in funding for small business grants up to $10,000 from the City's CARES Act allocation. The program focuses on funding physical improvements made by businesses to remain agile and adaptive during this time.

Grant Amount
A business may apply for a one-time grant award not to exceed $10,000. The applicant may only be reimbursed for a cost directly caused by COVID-19. Applicants may request funding at any amount between $500 -$10,000, based on demonstrated costs. Requests shall be in whole numbers to the nearest $100.00. Only one application per business is allowed to be submitted.

Timeline
Applications open on-line on Friday, August 21. Applications close end of day, Monday, August 31. Applications will be reviewed September 1- September 9. Notification of Award and requests for additional information follow on and after September 10. The City and EDA retain the authority and discretion to approve or deny an application. It reserves the right to subsequently add further priorities, change eligibility criteria, or discontinue the program in response to changing circumstances, particularly if funding remains available after initial awards.
Program Requirements

Eligible expenses must be:
  • Incurred at the Apple Valley business location – Improvements and PPE are required to be made in/at Apple Valley businesses. Businesses are not required to utilize Apple Valley contractors, suppliers, or materials
  • Incurred as a direct result of COVID-19 (not a planned or budgeted expense) and the applicant must provide an explanation of why the expense is COVID-19 related and will certify that the expense was not a pre-budgeted expense
  • Substantiated with receipts or other documentation

Applicant businesses must:
  • Be located in the City of Apple Valley
  • Have a physical location in a Commercial, Industrial, or Institutional zoning district
  • Have 50 or fewer full-time employees (also known as full-time equivalents or FTE)

The following businesses are ineligible for the Apple Valley Small Business Assistance Grant Program:
  • Businesses not located in Apple Valley
  • Businesses that have revenues which exceeded $1.5 million in 2019
  • Non-profit organizations which are not 501C 3 or veterans organizations
  • Home-based businesses; those without a physical location established in the allowed land use districts (Commercial, Industrial, Institutional)
  • Businesses who are not making physical, PPE, or other improvements to their Apple Valley location. 
  • A direct benefit for the Apple Valley location of a business must be established. 
  • An applicant narrative will allow for additional explanation.
  • Financial institutions 
  • Publicly traded companies
  • Businesses that derive income from passive investments; real estate transactions (except that realtors and other realty related businesses are not categorically excluded); property rentals or property management; billboards; or lobbying 

What are Eligible Expenditures?
The Apple Valley program is prioritizing physical improvements to a business property. Examples of eligible expenditures are below. 
  • Building improvements,
  • Equipment and furnishings
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE), physical barriers, pandemic safety additions
  • Sanitizing supplies
  • Signage
  • Employee training
  • Transition to online sales, e-commerce, digital enhancements, servers, equipment, website
  • Printing
  • Advertising
  • Supplies needed to restart operations

Indemnification:
All grant recipients shall be required to indemnify the City of Apple Valley, Economic Development Authority, and any officers acting on their behalf.
Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce | info@applevalleychamber.com