St. Johns launches Back to Business grant program

Posted Thursday, May 28, 2020 12:00 am

St. Johns County is launching the Back to Business Grant Program, designed to assist small businesses in need of short-term assistance due to disruption of business operations and loss of revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grants provide up to $10,000 for each qualifying business to offset costs such as payroll, rent or mortgage and utilities. The program will assist businesses that have a critical need for immediate assistance until other sources of funding can be obtained, or until the State relaxes safety and social distancing requirements. In order to be eligible for the St. Johns County Back to Business Grant Program, businesses must:

Have experienced disruption and/or loss of income due to COVID-19 crisis and/or public health emergency orders.
Own or lease space at a physical location zoned for business operations in St. Johns County as of March 17.
Be registered with Florida Division of Corporations and/or licensed under the state’s Business and Professional Regulation.
Have earned less than $5 million in annual gross income for 2019.
Have 75 or fewer employees as of March 17.
Show proof of employees paying payroll taxes prior to March 17.
Have been operating for at least one year prior to March 17. No start-up businesses are eligible.
Be current on St. Johns County business taxes.
Have no pending petition for bankruptcy protection, no claims; not on HUD debarred list.
Not be a non-profit organization.
Cannot operate as a home-based business.
Not be receiving unemployment insurance benefits if a sole proprietor.

Online applications will be available at www.sjcfl.us. Paper applications won’t be accepted. The application period will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, June 1. Eligible applicants that submit complete applications will be selected for an award by an independent contractor. Awards will be disbursed via electronic funds transfer. For more information or assistance with your application, please contact St. Johns County between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at (904) 209.1278 or www.sjcfl.us/sbrecovery.