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Business Update for those Facing the Impact of COVID-19 Friday, December 18, 2020

We continue to provide our business community with the latest updates and tools from the City of Miami Beach during this pandemic.

Emergency Grants Available for Miami Beach Small Businesses Small businesses in Miami Beach that have been hurt by the pandemic can soon apply for up to $20,000 in emergency grant money. The funds can be used to pay for rent, mortgages, utilities, payrolls, operating supplies and other types of business expenses.   Miami Beach Commissioners voted unanimously in October to set aside $600,0000 in funding through the Community Development Block Grant – Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) to assist at least 30 small businesses that have been hard hit by the coronavirus.   The grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-qualified basis. The application may be viewed beginning on December 28, 2020 and applications may be submitted beginning on January 6, 2021. Interested businesses should visit https://miamibeachfl.gosmart.org. The application process will remain open until all funds are exhausted.   As a condition of accepting the money, small businesses must retain or create one job filled by a Miami Beach resident of low-to-moderate income or the business must be owned by a low-to-moderate income wage earner. Businesses should be prepared to show 2020 and 2021 business tax receipts, tax returns, bank statements, payroll documents, invoices and proof of payment for eligible expenses.

FPL Main Street Recovery Credit Program FPL is excited to announce the Florida Public Service Commission has approved the Main Street Recovery Credit Program aimed towards providing credits to qualifying small businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic. Qualifying small businesses would receive a monthly 10% credit on the energy charge portion of their electric bill for the duration of the program. The company will implement the FPL Main Street Recovery Credit Program for qualifying small businesses in January and offer bill credits through the end of 2021. Establishments in FPL’s service area that are eligible to apply for the program include new small businesses that began service on December 1, 2020, small businesses that were inactive for at least six months in 2020, and existing small businesses operating in communities under the Opportunity Zones Program designated by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Applications are currently being accepted here.

Miami Beach Launches Race to Trace The City of Miami Beach announced the launch of Race to Trace, a new program intended to provide focused COVID-19 contact tracing and other health resources to Miami Beach hotels, restaurants as well as cultural venues. Funded under a grant from The Rockefeller Foundation, the program will provide businesses with a dedicated strike team of seasoned contact tracers from the Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Miami-Dade County to keep employees and patrons safe. In order to assess businesses’ needs and measure the success of the program, the city is conducting a statistically valid survey.  Please take 5 minutes to complete the survey, here. The results will greatly contribute to the planning efforts for this program, and your input will remain confidential.  For more information, visit the Miami Beach Race to Trace webpage or email [email protected].

To request assistance as an impacted business or employee, please email [email protected] with your contact information and needs. All inquiries will be responded to via phone or email by a Resource Agent. For a full listing of resources and information visit www.MBbiz.com View our frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 or email [email protected].

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