SelectCobb to reopen applications for small business relief grants

The Cobb Board of Commissioners voted this week to extend its partnership with SelectCobb, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s economic development arm (story here) to aid small businesses recovering from COVID-19 lockdowns.

Eligible businesses will be able to apply, starting July 27, to receive between $20,000 and $40,000 help pay for personnel, rent, utilities and PPE costs.

Here’s what’s different in the second round of the grant selection process:

Businesses that have received financial assistance from the Payroll Protection Program or Small Business Administration are now eligible for a grant.
Businesses can include both W-2 and 1099 employees toward their total number of employees.

The following requirements include the following:

Business must be an existing for-profit corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship;
Business headquarters or primary location must be within Cobb County;
Business must have 100 or fewer full-time, W-2 employees and/or individual 1099 contractors that function like employees, i.e., employees or contractors working at least 30 hours per week or 130 hours per month;
Business must have been in continuous operation for a minimum of 1 year prior to March 13, 2020;
Business must have a current business license issued by Cobb County Government, City of Acworth, City of Austell, City of Kennesaw, City of Marietta, City of Powder Springs, or City of Smyrna;
Business must be current on all local taxes;
Business may be home-based or located in an owned or leased commercial space;
Business must certify if they have received PPP/SBA funds and the amount in which they received as of time of application submittal; and
Business cannot be a publicly traded company.
Ineligible Businesses Include: Gambling Institutions, Multi-Level Marketing Organizations, Real Estate Investment Firms (REITS), Adult Entertainment

The deadline to apply is Aug. 21 at 5 p.m., and you can apply and get more information by clicking here.