SPARK

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

MONTGOMERY COUNTY SPARK GRANT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Out of the $1Million allocated to Economic Development in the plan above, the County designated $400,000 for Small Business and not-for-profit organizations, with a cap set at $100,000 for not-for-profit businesses.  Businesses and non-profit organizations will have to show that they have a need for the funding due to the impacts of COVID-19. They can do this by providing information on the following:

• Revenue loss
  • Revenues lost and not recouped due to event cancellations, business closures, or loss of sales, etc. due to COVID-19.  Businesses/Not-for-Profits will have to provide 2019 revenues and compare those to current revenues.  If an event will be cancelled in the fall/winter of 2020 due to covid, those are eligible, but additional information will need to be provided to justifiy why there isn't a difference yet from 2019 - 2020.  New businesses are eligible as long as they were open by March 20, 2020, and can demonstrate using a business plan or financial plan expected revenue prior to March 1, 2020. 
• PPE / Covid-19 Prevention/Sanitation Expenses 
  • Expenses for PPE, Cleaning and sanitation, signs or information provided to customers/clients/etc. Organization will have to certify and provide receipts that they have not already been reimbursed for these expenses through another program.
• Collaboration 
  • Programs that will help multiple businesses/not-for-profits by collaborating together to provide an innovative resource that will help the community and all organizations recover from COVID-19.  

ELIGIBILITY

• Businesses with less than 100 employees
• Not-for-Profits with less than 50 employees (including national)
• Not-for-profits that are a 501(c)3 or a 501(c)6
• Small Business/Not-for-Profit was in operation in Montgomery County on March 20, 2020.
• Commercial business address (mobile addresses are allowed as long as there are 3+ employees)
• If home-based, they must have 3+ qualified employees
• Must demonstrate negative impacts from COVID-19
• Must still be in operation and operating at the time of application.
• Will have to have a DUNS NUMBER!  You can get this number here: https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/

AWARD AMOUNTS

• $2,000/Business/Not-for-profit + $500/Full Time Employee + $250/PT Employee
• Collaboration projects are eligible for up to $20,000.
• Minimum award of $1,000 if all eligibility requirements are met.

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES

• Working capital such as wages, utilities, rent, etc.
• COVID-19 related signage
• Cleaning/Sanitation expenses
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Payroll
• Fixed Debts
• Accounts Payable
• Other legitimate bills that were made difficult due to COVID-19. 
• The purchase of 60 days’ worth of inventory needed to reopen (60 days will begin on the day the business is allowed to reopen).

Invoices and receipts must be submitted prior to funding being disbursed.