The Small Business Relief grant in response to COVID-19 is a partnership between The City of Shelbyville, the Shelby County Development Corporation, the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Mainstreet Shelbyville, the Blue River Community Foundation, the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, and the Lieutenant Governor’s office.

The City of Shelbyville continues to work with state officials as they provide us with guidance and training on this program, including eligibility requirements, funding limitations, and general timelines. We are working to expedite the program as much as possible so that we can get this much-needed assistance to our small business community. The state continues to provide us guidance on this program as it is developed and implemented, but we want to share any and all information we have at this point. The following is information on the program that we currently have, we will continue to update everyone as more information becomes available:

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• Income Verification: The federal funds that are funding this program must be targeted primarily at retaining jobs in low-to-moderate income households, so there will be some simple reporting when applying for the grant. Businesses will need to complete something similar to this Income Verification Worksheet Sample we have created. An example and a blank template will be posted on the City’s website and shared with this group in the coming days. The income that is being reported is for every employee at your business, both full-time and part-time. Specifically, the average annual income from their employment at your business, not other incomes they may have or other incomes in their household, we are only collecting information on the income earned from the business applying for this program. The information that will be needed for this reporting is: (1) Employee Name or Initials, (2) Job Type, and (3) Average Annual Income from Position. With this information, we can do the other reporting that will need to be done to the state and the federal government. 

• Eligible Expenses: Grant funding can be used to fund continued operations of your business to help account for lost revenue caused by COVID-19. The funds can also be used to help alter your business to promote social distancing or transition your employees to a remote work environment. The one notable item to keep in mind while applying for this funding is that the program won't allow for "Double Dipping" with the other CARES Act programs. The specific example that was given to us by the state was: If you were awarded PPP funds, you may not use this grant to cover payroll expenses, but you may use these funds for other business-related expenses. 

• Application Information: We hope to have an application approved by the state by as soon (The week of September 28th, 2020) so that we can open the program up for applications. Currently, the information we will be asking in the application includes:

• Basic Business Information (Name, Address, Phone Number)

• Number of Employees (FT and PT)

• “Did your business receive ‘Paycheck Protection Program’ funds?”

• COVID-19’s Impact on Your Business (A brief explanation)

• How You Intend To Use The Funds, If Awarded

• Itemized Accounting of How Funds Would Be Used, If Awarded.

• Grant Amount Being Requested (Up to $10,000)

• The Income Verification Information explained above

• A copy of your businesses W9 so we can process a check if you are awarded

• Timeline: We currently do not know what the timeline for this program will be, but we are working to start accepting applications as soon, pending any needed approvals from the state. We will provide you with additional information on the program timeline as we learn more in the next few weeks.

In the coming days and weeks, we will continue to reach out with information about this program, but if you have any specific questions please feel free to contact our office, The City of Shelbyville, or one of the program partners directly.