To be eligible for Grant Funds under the District 2 Grant Program, a business must meet the following criteria that has been established by the Grant Requirements:

• The small business must have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and has experienced costs or losses associated with the interruption of business operations caused by required closures, or has incurred unemployment insurance costs, if such costs or losses will not otherwise be reimbursed by the federal government.
  • Examples: the business was deemed “non-essential” and forced to close by state or local health orders; sales are down more than 25% compared to previous three months (prior to February 15, 2020); the business has laid-off at least one employee (full- or part-time); or one or more of employees have contracted COVID-19 while at work.
• The small business is a for-profit enterprise that is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field of operation.
• The small business has 100 employees or fewer, and average annual gross receipts of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) or less over the previous three (3) years; or is a manufacturer with 100 or fewer employees.
• The small business (or its principle office) is located within the jurisdictional boundaries of the City of Buena Park, and within the Second Supervisorial District for the County of Orange. Use this link for reference.
• The officers of the small business reside within the jurisdictional boundaries of the County of Orange, California.
• The small business is a commercial or industrial space (home-businesses and public entities excluded), and is in good-standing with the City (e.g. no outstanding code enforcement matters, fines, taxes, etc.)
• The small business has had an active Buena Park business license for at least three (3) months prior to the date of the Grant Application.
• The small business has submitted a complete and accurate Grant Application, together with all required supporting documents, and has executed the Grant Agreement with the City.

Grant Funds may be used to pay any “Eligible Expenses,” which include costs of business interruption caused by required closes and unemployment insurance costs related to the COVID- 19 public health emergency, if such costs will not otherwise be reimbursed by the federal government (e.g. costs paid for with a CDBG-CV Small Business Grant from the City.) Examples of Eligible Expenses include rent or mortgage expenses, payroll for employees dedicated to mitigation or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency, utilities, unemployment insurance costs, inventory, or other working capital expenses of the business.

The following are not Eligible Expenses and may not be paid for with Grant Funds (and therefore are “Ineligible Expenses”):

• Expenses that have been or will be reimbursed under any federal program, including any funding from the City’s CDBG-CV Small Business Emergency Relief Grant Program.
• Damages covered by insurance.
• Payroll or benefits expenses for employees whose work duties are not substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
• Reimbursement to donors for donated items or services.
• Workforce bonuses other than hazard pay on overtime.
• Severance pay.
• Legal Settlements.

Grant Applicants must fill out a “use of funds” form that breakdowns how Grant Funds will be spent for an Eligible Expense. Each Applicant will need to sign and verify that the use of funds will be spent on an Eligible Expense, such as those listed above. Any use of Grant Funding other than for Eligible Expenses to support the small business is strictly prohibited.

Qualifying small businesses are eligible to receive Grants in amounts not to exceed the following:

• Businesses with 10 or less employees are eligible for a Grant of up to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00); and
• Businesses with between 11-100 employees are eligible for a Grant of up to Twenty Thousand Dollars $20,000