Ventura, CA – The County of Ventura’s Business Assistance Program will move forward to provide funding to all remaining eligible applicants that were not selected during the Round 1 lottery of the program. The potential number of additional recipients is over 3,700. In total, this program will provide up to $24 million directly to our local small businesses and non-profits.
“We hope that this funding can help provide some relief to businesses who have been seriously impacted by COVID-19. We appreciate our partnership with the Ventura County Community Foundation in serving those in need throughout the County,” said County Executive Officer Mike Powers. “They have worked so hard to help businesses qualify for these grants. They have fielded thousands of inquiries and provided direct support to business owners to help process applications. Their support has allowed for this effort to move forward.”
The Foundation has provided aid during many recent emergencies and now they have come alongside to assist in supporting our business community with the impacts of COVID-19. As we continue to respond to the pandemic, it’s more important than ever for us to unite in supporting local business.
At today’s Board of Supervisors meeting the Board finalized the agreement to allow for the County to provide program funding and for the Ventura County Community Foundation to complete the administration of the program, granting a $5,000 award to every remaining eligible business.
“The County of Ventura and the Ventura County Community Foundation have a long and cherished history of collaboration, most recently with our successful 2020 Census outreach. We are honored to partner with the County of Ventura, the Economic Development Collaborative and the Women’s Economic Ventures to help small businesses during this challenging time, while doing everything we can to help protect sensitive information of those businesses and their owners. The deep respect the Ventura County Community Foundation has for the County of Ventura remains strong,” said Vanessa Bechtel, President and CEO of the Ventura County Community Foundation.
The agreement comes after the County and the Ventura County Community Foundation have come to a resolution regarding the release of recipient names.
To date, 777 of approximately 5,000 applicants have received grants. Checks will be sent to the remaining eligible applicants by the end of November.
The Business Assistance Grant Program includes grants of $5,000 each for small businesses to alleviate impacts from COVID-19 for allowed uses such as payroll support, rent and lease payments, costs for personal protective equipment, purchases related to the operation of their businesses, and extraordinary business expenses for adhering to compliance protocols for reopening.
In order to mitigate the devastating economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Board of Supervisors has approved programs for businesses, renters, seniors, homeless persons and hospitals by utilizing a portion of funding that the County received from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund under the CARES Act.
