MADERA – The County of Madera Board of Supervisors approved a Small Business Pandemic Assistance Grant program to help support small businesses located in Madera County, including the City of Madera and the City of Chowchilla.
“This program affirms the Board’s commitment to use available resources to help ensure businesses in the County see a path to recovery from this crisis,” said David Rogers, Board Chairman.
The County will partner with the Madera County Economic Development Commission (MCEDC) to disperse over $3.8 Million in the form of small business grants. The County received the funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security Act (CARES ) from the State of California originating from the United States Government.
By state mandate many businesses that had just recently reopened were forced to shut their doors for a second time creating further hardship. Many of the small businesses in Madera County may not be able to survive without some assistance.
“Small businesses employ a significant portion of our community, especially in the hard hit sectors like tourism and hospitality. The action taken by the Board of Supervisors will give our local economy a chance to weather this pandemic,” said Jay Varney, Madera County CAO.
If you are a small business in Madera County with 20 employees or less you can apply for a $5,000 grant or if you have 21 to 50 employees you are eligible to apply for a $10,000 grant.
All eligible Madera County small businesses are encouraged to apply by going to the following website Madera County EDC Business Grant or by calling the Madera County EDC office at 559-675-7768
Applications will be accepted beginning 8 a.m. August 5 until 5 p.m August 14, 2020. If funding is available after August 31,2020 we will continue to accept applications.
“So many of our small businesses throughout the County have been devastated by the COVID-19 Pandemic we felt this was a great way to help them survive during these unprecedented times,” said Bobby Kahn, Executive Director of MCEDC. “It has been the absolute worst nightmare come true for so many industries.”
