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SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS AVAILABLE
Applications Anticipated to Start May 11
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The Governor announced last Thursday that he would be making small business grants available to some 30,000 of Idaho's smallest businesses. Priority will be given to businesses who employ less than 20 employees and the next wave of consideration to businesses with less than 50 employees. This is about 24% of the 1.25 billion dollars that was provided to the State of Idaho's Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF). The rest is dedicated to cover unexpected and un-budgeted expenses to state and local governments due to coronavirus response.
I serve on the Governor's Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC), and we met on Friday to finalize criteria and processes for small businesses to apply for grants. The U.S. Treasury guidance allows the state to use Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars for expenditures “related to the provision of grants to small businesses to reimburse the costs of business interruption caused by required closure.”
The Basics of the Program - Click Here for How to Apply
- Total Program: $300 million (24% of total CRF award)
- Individual Business Grant: up to $10,000
- More than 30,000 Idaho small businesses supported
- Subject to qualification (eligibility to be finalized by the Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee and made available on Tuesday, May 5 at 9 a.m. Mountain Time)
- Targeted to those small businesses that did not receive the Paycheck Protection Program or received less than $10,000 through this program
- All individual grants will be reported on Transparent.Idaho.Gov
Application Process - Must Have a Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) account
We anticipate opening applications on May 11, 2020. Applications will be facilitated by the State Tax Commission. To apply, small businesses will need to create a Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) account if they do not already have one. Small businesses are encouraged to create a TAP account as soon as possible, well in advance of the application period opening on May 11.
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Last Thursday during his press conference, Governor Little announced a four stage plan to reopen Idaho’s economy. No reopening stage will be implemented until the statewide pandemic criteria for that stage are first met.
In Stage 1 (May 1 - May 15):
- Places of worship, daycares, and organized youth activities and day camps can reopen as long as they follow protocols.
- The 14-day self-quarantine for people entering the state will continue, to prevent an influx of out-of-state visitors who could be carrying the virus into Idaho.
- Vulnerable Idahoans should continue to stay at home if they can.
- Employees are encouraged to continue teleworking, and employers should return employees to work in phases.
- Gatherings of any size, both public and private, should be avoided.
- Non-essential travel should be minimized or avoided.
- Dine-in at restaurants must remain closed, but pick-up and delivery options will still available. In the next two weeks, restaurant operators should develop plans to open for dine-in on May 16 during Stage 2. Protocols will be available at Rebound.Idaho.Gov before close of business today.
- Indoor gyms, recreation facilities, and close contact services such as massage, hair and nail salons remain closed but can make plans to reopen on May 16 in Stage 2 if they follow protocols.
- Visits to senior living facilities and congregate facilities such as jails and prisons are prohibited.
- Bars, nightclubs, and large venues must remain closed.
If Idaho meets criteria to progress to the next stage over the next two weeks, then Stage 2 will begin May 16. Details are at Rebound.Idaho.Gov.
In conjunction with Governor Little’s “Rebound Idaho” plan, Central District Health (CDH) has created guidance for businesses for safe re-opening in Phase 1. CDH will also be working with all food establishments in Ada County to review their plans for re-opening in Phase 2.
With Idaho’s confirmed coronavirus cases reaching 1,909 on Saturday with the addition of 23 cases among eight counties, we still must remain vigilant and be responsible to follow health and safety standards to stay on the right track.
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Idaho COVID-19 Hotline:
1-888-330-3010
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Here are some RESOURCES from Idaho's Division of Behavior:
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CONTACT TRACING AND TESTING
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During the Governor's press conference, Director Dave Jeppesen encouraged Idahoans to continue to stay vigilant in our fight of the coronavirus because we are collectively "the best tool in the tool box" to fight the virus by continuing to social distance, practice good hygiene, and stay at home as much as we can.
We have increased our testing capacity and contact tracing, but this is still "our best tool," he said.
What is Contact Tracing?
"Contact tracing, a core disease control measure employed by local and state health department personnel for decades, is a key strategy for preventing further spread of COVID-19. Immediate action is needed. Communities must scale up and train a large contact tracer workforce and work collaboratively across public and private agencies to stop the transmission of COVID-19...."
Idaho has increased its capacity for contact tracing, which is reliant on beefing up staff in public health districts because once someone is tested and diagnosed, staff must trace all contacts made by the patient and then begin making notifications. We have always done this practice, but this would be a likely place where the Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) would be used.
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In response to COVID-19, Governor Brad Little issued a proclamation stating the Idaho May 19th Primary Election will be conducted exclusively by absentee ballot (vote by mail).
To receive a ballot for the May 19, 2020 Election, voters MUST complete the form below and return it to Elections. You will receive a ballot in approximately 10 days by mail to return to the Elections office. Return your ballot by 8 p.m. on June 2 to be counted. Before requesting a ballot, make sure that you’re registered. You may register up to Election Day, May 19th.
Here are some important voting deadlines:
- Register to Vote by May 19 by 8 p.m.
- Request Your Ballot by May 19 by 8 p.m.
- Turn In Your Ballot to Ada County Elections by June 2 by 8 p.m.
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