Relief: Fairfax and Montgomery Counties 4/15

Dear Operators, 

We know there is a lot of information coming from RAMW and while we hope it’s useful, we are also mindful that it can be a lot to absorb. 

 

Over the next couple of weeks, we will begin to streamline messaging to include real-time updates and action needed by you as you are considering and leveraging various relief efforts.  In the meantime, we are sharing a few quick regional updates below.

 

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted in their meeting yesterday to approve the establishment of the Fairfax County Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Microloan Fund to complement federal relief funding for county businesses.  The board expects the loan program to be ready by May 1, according to county documents.  The program provides $1.2M to small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.  Businesses who undergo a pre-submission counseling session will be able to apply for loans up to $20,000 and will be able to use the money for costs such as rent, equipment and critical cash operating expenses. The loans will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis and are part of an overall $2.5M coming from the Economic Opportunity Reserve to support economic relief efforts.  The additional money in the fund is being considered for other relief, but after 45 days the staff of the Department of Economic Initiatives who are monitoring the fund may recommend to the Board to add additional funds to the small business program. We will share when we know more about when the Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Microloan Fund is available. 

 

In addition, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) has put together helpful resources for Fairfax County businesses. See below for more information. 

 

e-Bird: The FCEDA has an e-newsletter called the e-Bird that provides business news for the County, highlighting resources that might be available, how other companies are adjusting to COVID, and how the community is responding to help individuals and other businesses in the Fairfax community. You can subscribe by visiting their main webpage (https://www.fairfaxcountyeda.org/) and scrolling down to the bottom for the form to sign up. They also have a COVID Business Resource Hub.

 

Matching Program: The FCEDA is matching employers who have had to furlough employees with companies who are hiring temporary workers to meet increased demand in their services.  Companies include Walmart, Instacart and Amazon etc. Contact Mike Batt (Mbatt@fceda.org) if you are interested in learning more.

 

The Montgomery County Public Health Emergency Grant will open today (Wed. 4/15) in the mid-afternoon, according to County Executives.  Interested applicants can sign up here now to receive an email when the application does go live.  Under the PHEG program, businesses with 100 employees or less that are suffering economic impacts from Covid-19 are eligible to receive grants of up to $75,000 per business. According to the county’s analysis, about 50,000 businesses may be eligible for the grants and those who have lost half or more of their net revenue since March will be given priority.  

 

Additionally, the County Council met today and proposed an additional $5M to add to the $20M previously approved to seed the fund.  The Council is scheduled to approve the additional $5 million appropriation on April 21 and it is targeted specifically to provide relief for restaurants and retail. Click here for more information and to review criteria and materials required to apply. 

 

County lawmakers also introduced a measure today to freeze rent increases for residential tenants, small businesses and nonprofits for up to 30 days after MD releases the stay-at-home mandates.  

As always, more to come in the form of real-time updates as we get them.  

 

Be safe and kind. 

 

Best,

Kathy