During a recent press conference Governor DeWine along with members of the Ohio General Assembly announced a proposal to utilize the remainder of Ohio’s CARES Act allocation to support small businesses, non-profits, performing arts centers, hospitals, institutions of higher education, and individual rent/mortgage assistance.
The total plan allocates $419.5M with $125M going to a Small Business Relief Program for businesses with fewer than 25 employees. The program allows those businesses to obtain $10,000 grants, which will be distributed on a first-come basis with applications opening on November 2, 2020. These funds are eligible to be used for cost incurred as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak for:
- Personal protective equipment to protect employees, customers, or clients from COVID-19.
- Measures taken to protect employees, customers, or clients from COVID-19.
- Mortgage or rent payments for business premises (personal residences explicitly excluded).
- Utility payments.
- Salaries, wages, or compensation paid to contractors or employees, including an employer’s share of health insurance costs.
- Business supplies or equipment
Bars nd Restaurants will be eligible for $2,500 grants with the allocation of $37.5 million for restaurants, bars, breweries, wineries or other businesses with an active on-premise consumption permit as of October 23, 2020. These grants will be distributed through the Ohio Development Services Agency through an application process beginning November 2, 2020.
Additionally, Governor DeWine announced $62 million for the state’s rural and critical access hospitals. These funds will be administered through the Ohio Office of Budget (OBM) and Management. According to OBM, distribution of funds is based on an assessment of suppressed utilization during the three months of March, April, and May. Designated hospitals are those who are Critical Access Hospitals (CAH), Rural Access Hospitals (RAH) as well as St. Vincent Charity Hospital, Cleveland, Metro General in Cleveland, and The University of Toledo Medical Center (UTMC).
Additional components of the proposal include:
- $50 million for Ohioans at or below 200% of the federal poverty level for assistance with rent, mortgage or utility payments due since April 1, distributed through the Ohio Development Services Agency,
- $100 million for higher education institutions to be put toward critical services including COVID-19 testing and mental health services, distributed to institutions through the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
- $25 million for nonprofits, distributed through the Ohio Development Services Agency.
- $20 million for arts organizations distributed through the Ohio Arts Council.
For assistance in gaining any of this state government funding for COVID 19 or other projects, contact Tim Biggam at [email protected] at the Montrose Group.