Santa Barbara Better Together Fund Small Business Grant Program (Santa Maria)

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Santa Barbara Better Together Fund Small Business Grant Program

Criteria Terms for City of Santa Maria and Santa Barbara Foundation

Description

The Santa Barbara Better Together (SBBT), a Committee-Advised Fund at the Santa Barbara Foundation, provides financial assistance grants to the small local business community specifically to support the basic needs of these businesses to enable them to continue operations during the COVID-19 pandemic period in a manner compliant with local and State Health Officer’s orders. Providing support to these businesses will combat community deterioration and benefit the entire community. The Santa Barbara Better Together Committee–Advised Fund is made up of Deckers representatives, Santa Barbara Foundation representatives, and local experts. All distribution of funds is voted on by the committee members.

The City of Santa Maria and Santa Barbara Foundation partnership will support grants from the Santa Barbara Better Together Fund to small locally-owned businesses located in Santa Maria as they reopen and adapt to operating under proper public health guidelines due to COVID-19. Priority will be given but not limited to child care businesses, restaurants, locally-owned, and small businesses.

 

Santa Barbara Better Together Fund Small Business Grant Limits

  • Up to $7,500 per grant

 

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the SBBT Small Business Grant Program, businesses must meet the following criteria:

  • Operate from a physical location within the city limits of Santa Maria.
  • Have provided uninterrupted service between January 1, 2019, and March 1, 2020.
  • Employ between 3 – 25 FTE employees as of March 1, 2020.
  • Have no more than $2 million in gross total sales between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019.
  • Gross total sales declined by at least 25% as a result of COVID-19 in March – June 2020, when compared to March – June 2019.
  • Ability to provide documentation to verify the economic hardship suffered as a direct result of the COVID-19 crisis, including tax returns, financial statements, and other financial data.
  • Show best effort to reopen and resume business operations, including Self-Certifying through the County’s RISE process.

 

Eligible Grant Uses

  • Items necessary to operate safely under current public health guidelines including but not limited to signage, personal protective equipment, items to accommodate outdoor seating or service.
  • Rent and utilities may be considered. The need must be related to lost income due to the pandemic.
  • Expenses must have been incurred during the period that begins on March 4, 2020, and ends on November 30, 2020.
  • The funds may not be used for ineligible expenditures, as described in the Coronavirus Relief Fund Guidance for State, Territorial, Local and Tribal Governments updated June 30, 2020, as may be further updated.