Citrus County CARES

NOTICE: Phase 3 of the CARES Grant has ended. No funding is available.

The County was initially awarded $6.5 million in emergency relief funds to support the businesses hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds are available as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act federal stimulus package. The County has already disbursed over $3.8 million of these funds to date. The Citrus County CARES Small Business Grant Program Phase 3, approved by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, will provide recovery grants to eligible businesses adversely impacted by the COVID‐19 pandemic.

The Citrus County CARES Small Business Grant Program Phase 3 begins Monday, October 19 at 8:00 a.m. through Friday, November 6 at 5:00 p.m. Applications will be electronic only and additional eligibility information is available online.

The program offers a grant to qualifying businesses to cover expenses such as employee wages, vendor bills and rent. The emergency relief is specifically targeted to help local businesses most impacted to cover immediate financial needs. Grants are strictly limited to businesses located physically within Citrus County, with a Business Tax Receipt (BTR) issued on or before September 30, 2020. Business must also demonstrate ongoing business operations as of February 29, 2020. Business is expected to be fully operational after local and state emergency guidelines are rolled back.

CARES Act Phase 3 eligibility:

To be eligible or this you must be one of the following qualified categories:

A. Children, Elderly and Disabled Care Providers with Commercial Presence - not limited to 35 employees, BTR prior to 9/30/20.
Award amounts:
-Very Small (Less than 40 capacity) - $5,000
-Small (41 to less than 80 capacity) - $10,000
-Medium (81 to less than 130 capacity) - $10,000
-Large (over 131 capacity) - $24,950

B. Nursing Homes Licensed by the State - not limited to 35 employees, BTR prior to 9/30/20.
Award amounts:
-Small (Less than 50 beds) - $10,000
-Medium (Between 50 and 100 beds) -$17,500
-Large (Over 100 beds) - $24,950

C. Licensed non-emergency Medical Practices, including but not limited to Speech pathologists, Audiologists and Imaging Centers with a commercial presence. Grant award is $7,500.
D. Boat Captains without a Commercial Real Estate Presence - excluding previously awarded. Grant award is $3,000.
E. Boat Captains with a Commercial Real Estate Presence - excluding previously awarded. Grant award is $6,000.
F. Entertainment - Musicians, DJ’s, Event Promoters, Photographers, Stage Lighting, Sound Companies, Restaurant Suppliers, Bakers, Linen Services. Grant award is $3,000.
G. Court Reporters – excluding previously awarded. Grant award is $3,000.
H. Auction Houses, Estate/Household Sales businesses. Grant award is $3,000.
I. Home-based business – home repair/cleaning services. Grant award is $3,000.

The online application will take approximately ten minutes and is simple to navigate. The CARES support number is (352) 527-5449 to assist small business owners with questions pertaining to the grant and online application. Be patient when calling as we are anticipating high call volume the first week. If no one is available to answer your call, it will go to a dedicated voice mailbox. The email address is cares@citrusbocc.com. The CARES Act funding is a critical part of Citrus County’s commitment to keeping our business community healthy and the local economy moving forward.

In general, applicants will need the following documentation. There are some variations among grant types:

W-9 Form (filled out and signed)
State Licenses for the professional care facilities
Staffing Documentation (IRS FORM 941 or proof of 1099 distribution, or a Schedule "C.")
Current Business Tax Receipt for fiscal year 2020 dated before September 30, 2020.
Leases or property ownership information
Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vehicles (OUPV) also known as the "6-PACK" or Masters license.
Entity’s 2019 tax return.