Small businesses apply now for relief grants

ROSEBURG – Small Douglas County businesses including microenterprises can now apply for COVID-19 relief funds through a $500,000 community development block grant program.

Online applications are being taken now through 5 p.m. Thursday, March 31.

The City of Roseburg, which was the lead applicant, and Douglas County applied for and received a $500,000 community development block grant to set up an Emergency Small Business and Microenterprise Grant Program.

The City is now partnering with Roseburg-based CCD Business Development Corporation -- the regional Economic Development District for Douglas, Coos and Curry counties -- to administer and process grants ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 that are available through the emergency program, according to CCD Business Development Corporation.

A total of $275,000 is available to be awarded as cash, while the rest can be used to provide professional services, workforce training or meet other needs of local eligible businesses that apply. Awards are based on demonstrated need rather than made on a first-come, first-served basis.

“This grant is targeted to those who need technical assistance and workforce training to ensure their business is resilient. Professional training for the workforce and employees means investing in them so they are educated and feel valued, thus enabling workforce retention,” said CCD Business Development Corporation Executive Director Theresa Haga.

The program’s goal is to help businesses remain solvent and retain or create low- and moderate-income jobs throughout the pandemic crisis. Funds may be used to offset expenses arising from the pandemic or to pay operating expenses incurred while a business’ revenue is compromised.

The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Thursday, March 31.

The program is open to any eligible business located in Douglas County. The grant funds are intended to be equally accessible to all businesses, including those owned by historically disadvantaged populations such as women and Native American, Black, Asian and Hispanic residents, according to CCD.

Eligible businesses include those:

• immediately impacted by public health restrictions;

• generally stable/strong prior to the crisis;

• either employing low-income to moderate-income people or microenterprises employing five or less employees and whose owner is low-moderate income;

• in business for at least one year (from the date of the application).

“It is really important to explain how your small business was impacted by the public health restrictions,” said CCD Technical Assistance Coordinator Kemberly Todd. “The more detail the better, as it’s not just income loss that is considered. It can be employee retention issues, supply chain problems, health-related problems and more that contribute to a business being impacted.”

The program can help provide:

• Short-term working capital assistance;

• Technical assistance in business redesign, new online marketing platforms or other assistance needed to remain in operation throughout the pandemic crisis;

• Technical assistance, grants and other financial assistance to establish, stabilize and expand

microenterprises impacted by the pandemic;

• Job training for low-to-moderate income (LMI) workers in communities affected by pandemic-related job loss since January 2020 to revitalize impacted labor force and business sector.

Funds are limited. Actual grant amounts will be determined by an application review process with CCD Business Development Corporation. Grants range from $2,500 to $25,000.

For microenterprises, the maximum grant amount is $10,000 (LMI is determined by total household income earned by the business owner and based on that person’s family size.) For small businesses, the maximum grant amount is $25,000 ($2,500 per LMI employee) and is based on a low-income limit of $21,900 or a moderate income limit of $35,000.

Applications must be submitted through an online portal at www.ccdbusiness.org starting at 8 a.m. March 21, 2022. The portal will close at 5 p.m. March 31, 2022. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Business owners who do not have access to a computer or need assistance with completing the grant application can schedule an appointment with a CCD technical assistance provider or other staff. To schedule technical assistance, contact Technical Assistance Coordinator, Kemberly Todd at 541-672-6728, extension 307.

For general questions, email cdbgroseburggrants@ccdbusiness.com, or check out the website at ccdbusiness.org.

Clients who best meet eligibility criteria will be contacted starting in May.

For additional information, contact:

Brandi Medeiros, Community Development Director, 541-672-6728 Ext. 308

Jeanell Fipps, Loan Servicing/Community Development Tech, 541-756-4101 Ext. 4

Janet Tidrick, Community Development Technician, 541-672-6728 Ext. 302

Lehi Dowell, Economic Recovery Coordinator, 541-672-6728 Ext. 303

Krisha Rasmussen, Loan Servicing Specialist, 541-756-4101 Ext. 2

Brianna Rodgers, Accounting Generalist, 541-672-6728 Ext. 305

Jake Long, Economic Recovery Specialist, 541-672-6728 Ext. 306