Osceola County offers $1.4M to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County has $1.4 million available to help small businesses that were impacted by the pandemic.

The Osceola County Housing and Community Services Department’s Microenterprise Assistance Program is offering one-time $5,000 grants to qualified, for-profit businesses located within unincorporated Osceola County to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus.

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The money is available on a first-come, first-ready basis.

Here are the requirements needed for businesses to apply:

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• Applicants must possess a business license and must be current on all county taxes, assessments and fees to participate.
• Applicants must be income-eligible, with a threshold of 80% below the area median income as calculated by HUD.
• Applicants must have no outstanding safety code enforcement violations and be free of violations within the last 12 months before the application date.
• Business must meet HUD’s microenterprise definition: a for-profit business with five employees or less, including prospective owner(s).
• The applicant must own at least 51% of the business and income.
• There must be evidence that the business was not failing prior to the pandemic.

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More information, including income requirements and an application, can be found here.

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