$40M Grant Announced To Help Pay Small Businesses’ Rent

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The state of Utah announced a $40 million grant program set up to specifically help small businesses and others pay their commercial rent.

“Our hope is that these grants will help provide relief until Utah small businesses can get back on their feet,” said Val Hale, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

GOED officials will administer the Commercial Rental Assistance Program grants to Utah small businesses as well as nonprofits, independent contractors and self-employed Utahns who have lost money because of measures taken to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The grant money was appropriated in Senate bill 3006 by the state legislature during a recent special session and signed into law by Governor Gary Herbert. The money comes out of federal money given to Utah under the federal CARES Act.

“We know this $40 million grant will not help every Utah business or non-profit with less than 100 employees, but it should go a long way to help many struggling Utah small businesses, which has been the focus of the economic response task force since the pandemic began,” Hale said.

To be eligible for the Commercial Rental Assistance Program, applicants must:

• Have a current lease on commercial property in the state of Utah
• Claim Utah as their principal place of business
• Be in operation with fewer than 100 employees on Feb. 15, 2020
• Demonstrate at least a 50% loss of gross monthly revenue after March 1, 2020, as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Not received funds from the COVID-19 Agricultural Operations Grant Program (funded with federal CARES Act monies)

Qualifying businesses and nonprofits may apply at coronavirus.utah.gov/business beginning May 11 at 9 a.m. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The application process will remain open until all funds are distributed. 

GOED will start mailing checks on May 15. 

A webinar with more information on the process will be available Friday on GOED’s YouTube channel. A Business Elevated podcast discussion is available at GOED’s newsroom or podcast sites.

S.B. 3006 also set aside $20 million to help agricultural operations. Details can be at the Department of Agriculture website. Applications are being accepted now and will continue through the close of business on May 15.

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How Do I Prevent It?

The CDC has some simple recommendations, most of which are the same for preventing other respiratory illnesses or the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who may be sick
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

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If you’re worried you may have COVID-19, you can contact the Utah Coronavirus Information Line at 1-800-456-7707 to speak to trained healthcare professionals. You can also use telehealth services through your healthcare providers.

Additional Resources

If you see evidence of PRICE GOUGING, the Utah Attorney General’s Office wants you to report it. Common items in question include toilet paper, water, hand sanitizer, certain household cleaners, and even cold medicine and baby formula. Authorities are asking anyone who sees price gouging to report it to the Utah Division of Consumer Protection at 801-530-6601 or 800-721-7233. The division can also be reached by email at consumerprotection@utah.gov.