A new City of Longmont grant will help reimburse the community’s small businesses and non-profits for their coronavirus-related expenses.

The Boost Longmont Business Grant offers up to $15,000 for Longmont-based non-profits and businesses with 25 or fewer employees (or full time equivalents – FTEs). The grant is designed to help cover expenses and lost revenues associated with the variety of impacts on businesses caused by the pandemic. The goal of the program is to support and retain our unique and bustling local businesses through this event.

These covered expenses may include:

• Lost revenues as a direct result of the pandemic
• Commercial lease/mortgage and utility payments
• Payroll and employee benefits
• Debt payments
• Inventory, including perishable inventory that was lost due to business closure or a reduction in operations
• Site modifications, supplies, and services to provide COVID-19 safety measures that are needed to re-open or continue operations, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), Plexiglas, special cleaning services and supplies, related marketing and signage, onsite testing, safety certifications or contact tracing.
• Equipment, employee training, or other expenses associated with pivoting business to meet new market demands resulting from COVID-19, such as manufacturing PPE or sterilization products.
• Other working capital expenses demonstrated as a need by the applicant and agreed upon by the City’s grant review panel

“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of hardship, and the economic effects have been particularly difficult for small businesses and nonprofits to weather,” City Manager Harold Dominguez said.  “These businesses drive our economy and these non-profits support many of our families who have been hardest hit. As we work to recover from this crisis, we must provide opportunities for these institutions to recover as well. By supporting them, this funding will provide much-needed support for our entire community.”

Applications for the Boost Longmont Business Grant Program will be available online from Oct. 20 through Nov. 1 at LongmontColorado.gov/boost-business-grant.

Funding for this program comes from the U.S. Department of the Treasury as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Coronavirus Relief Fund (CVRF).