Orange County NC Website
3 <br /> 1 Bonnie Hammersley said people can walk into parks and are not being kicked out, but <br /> 2 the County is discouraging congregants. <br /> 3 <br /> 4 Commissioner Price referred to the health screenings, and asked if there are certain <br /> 5 protocols for this process. <br /> 6 Travis Myren said if one has a temp over 100.4 degrees, or answers that say they are <br /> 7 symptomatic, then they cannot go into the buildings. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 a. Approval of Emergency Small Business Funding Program <br /> 10 The Board considered voting to create the Emergency Small Business Funding <br /> 11 Program, to provide Emergency Small Business funding to Orange County small businesses <br /> 12 experiencing revenue loss due to the coronavirus pandemic in the form of both grants and <br /> 13 loans. This program will be funded using Article 46 Sales Tax revenue that was originally <br /> 14 budgeted in the Small Business Loan Program. The current balance in the Article 46 Small <br /> 15 Business Loan Program is approximately $300,000. <br /> 16 Bonnie Hammersley said this is an emergency measure the County is taking to assist <br /> 17 businesses during this current emergency situation. <br /> 18 Travis Myren reviewed the information below: <br /> 19 <br /> 20 PURPOSE: To provide Emergency Small Business funding to Orange County small businesses <br /> 21 experiencing revenue loss due to the coronavirus pandemic in the form of both grants and <br /> 22 loans. This program will be funded using Article 46 Sales Tax revenue that was originally <br /> 23 budgeted in the Small Business Loan Program. The current balance in the Article 46 Small <br /> 24 Business Loan Program is approximately $300,000. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 BACKGROUND: The coronavirus pandemic has impacted the global stock markets and <br /> 27 disrupted economic and business growth throughout the United States. The County is <br /> 28 committed to supporting its local businesses and has established various grants and small <br /> 29 business loan programs to facilitate economic development. Given the substantial financial <br /> 30 impact on small businesses from this pandemic, a new Emergency Small Business Funding <br /> 31 Program is intended to provide immediate financial assistance. The BOCC previously approved <br /> 32 Article 46 Sales Tax funding for the Small Business Loan Program which will be used to fund <br /> 33 the Emergency Small Business Funding Program. <br /> 34 <br /> 35 Eligible small businesses may apply and qualify for a grant, loan or both. An evaluation <br /> 36 committee composed of two representatives each from the Small Business Grant Committee, <br /> 37 the Agricultural Grant Committee, and the Small Business Loan (SBL) Board will make final <br /> 38 determinations for both grants and loans. This group will be staffed by the County's Chief <br /> 39 Finance Officer and Director of Economic Development. Following BOCC approval, this group <br /> 40 will develop a plan to begin issuing grants and loans between April through June 2020. County <br /> 41 staff will provide status reports to the Board. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 Eligibility requirements: <br /> 44 . Orange County based businesses <br /> 45 • Minimum of one year of operations <br /> 46 • For-Profit business status <br /> 47 • Profit and Loss statement indicating profitability prior to coronavirus pandemic <br /> 48 <br /> 49 Emergency financing program: <br /> 50 • Maximum grant of$5,000 per small business with no repayment required. <br />