PREBLE COUNTY — Individuals and small business owners needing financial relief from COVID-19-related difficulties can now apply for a portion of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to be disbursed in Preble County.
Help for individuals
Recognizing that COVID-19 may have made it difficult for some of our residents to stay up to date on mortgage*, rent, or utilities, Preble County has established a Housing Assistance Program through the CARES Act funding received from the U.S. Treasury.
Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis as long as funds are available, and individual assistance is available for up to four months of rent/mortgage/utilities, not to exceed $3,200 per household. Only complete applications with all required supporting documentation will be considered.
To be eligible applicants must:
• Submit an application with required supporting documentation
• Own or rent a home which is their/my primary residence in Preble County.
• Have experienced a documentable loss or reduction in employment income after March 1, 2020, as a result of the Coronavirus that resulted in an inability to make one or more mortgage*, rent or utility payments.
• Have the ability to document proof of late/defaulted payment.
• Not have resources available (ie: Savings) to correct the default.
• Not have any household members that work for or serve in an official capacity for Preble County or any other entity associated with Preble County CARES Committee.
Applications can be printed from the Preble County website, www.prebco.org, or picked up at the Preble County Commission Office, 101 E Main St, Eaton, Monday through Friday (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
Completed applications with all supporting documentation can be emailed to [email protected] or returned to the Commission Office.
Any questions regarding the application process can be sent to [email protected].
*For mortgage assistance: original mortgage must be less than $200,000 and assistance payments will not include property taxes (if escrowed).
**All grantees will be issued with a 1099-G {Certain Government Payments, if, as a unit of federal, state or local government, you made payments of unemployment compensation; state or local income tax refunds, credits, or offsets; reemployment trade adjustment assistance (RTAA) payments; taxable grants; or agricultural payments.} It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to determine or to seek independent tax advice.
Small Business Relief Program
Small businesses needing relief from COVID-19-related expenses can apply for grant funding through the Preble County Small Business Relief Program.
The Preble County Small Business Relief Program is offering grants of $1,000-10,000 to small businesses in the county affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligible small businesses can apply for up to $10,000 in grant funds to be used for the reimbursement of eligible expenses. The program is being funded with money Preble County received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act — a $2 trillion economic stimulus bill Congress passed in March.
To be eligible for grant funding, businesses must have 50 or fewer employees or 1099 workers as of March 22, 2020; must have less than $1 million in gross revenue/receipts on an annual basis and must have experienced a decrease in gross revenue of 35 percent or more compared to March 1-April 30, 2019 revenue, due to COVID-19.
To receive funding, a business also must be an entity in Preble County which has been in operation since at least Jan. 2019.
Ineligible businesses include banks, savings and loans or credit unions; e-commerce-only companies, liquor/wine stores, vaping stores, tobacco stores and cannabis dispensaries.
Eligible expenses include mortgage costs, rent or lease costs, utility expenses, salaries, wages or compensation paid to employees or 1099 workers; materials and supplies related to interruption of the business caused by required closures and personal protective equipment or other COVID-19 related costs.
Ineligible expenses include cost of vehicles or equipment leased or purchased after March 23, except if the purchase of equipment is to comply with Responsible RestartOhio; mortgage, rent or lease costs for businesses located or operated out of a personal residence; personal, non-business expenses of businesses or their owners; new construction costs not related to COVID-19, and any tax, license or fee obligations payable to any governmental entity.
Applications will be accepted through 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14. Applications can be submitted via email to [email protected] or dropped off at the Preble County Courthouse, 101 E. Main St., Eaton, during regular office hours, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (Do not mail applications.)
For complete details about the Preble County Small Business Relief Program or to receive an application, visit www.prebco.org or email [email protected].
