Agenda - 09-01-20; 8-a - Minutes

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26 1 The Funding Plan categories due by June 1, 2020 are: 2 1) Medical expenses 3 2) Public health expenses 4 3) Payroll expenses 5 4) Expenses to facilitate compliance with COVI D-1 9-related public health measures 6 5) Expenses associated with economic support including small businesses 7 8 Emergency Small Business Grants 9 Staff is separately proposing using $410,000 from Article 46 Sales Tax Small Business 10 Program funds to provide Round 2 Emergency Grants to small businesses based on a financial 11 review of businesses April 2019 and April 2020 revenue. Grant Program eligibility requirements: 12 - Orange County based businesses 13 -A business must have not received Federal CARES Act, State or local funds 14 - Minimum of one year of operations 15 - Provide a public benefit in the form of job creation and tax base increase 16 - For-Profit business status 17 -All applicants are required to have been in business for a minimum of one-year, hold 18 applicable 2019 business privilege licenses, and be registered with appropriate legal entities 19 such as the North Carolina Secretary of State or Orange County Register of Deeds office 20 - Companies are not eligible if they have past-due tax liabilities or tax liens, delinquencies in 21 Orange County property taxes, or were in bankruptcy (Corporate or Personal) prior to the 22 pandemic 23 24 FINANCIAL IMPACT: The State has allocated $2,665,753 to the County for eligible COVID-19 25 expenses and the use of$410,000 of Article 46 Sales Tax Small Business Fund. There will be 26 forthcoming Budget Amendments for both funding sources. 27 28 Commissioner Greene said the abstract references a desire to see public benefit in the 29 form of job creation and tax base increase. She asked if this is actually an either/or situation. 30 Gary Donaldson said yes, either/or. 31 Commissioner Dorosin asked if job creation means new work, or bringing people back 32 to work. 33 Gary Donaldson said staff is working on that now, and he said the desire is something 34 measurable, and is trying to keep it simple. 35 Commissioner Dorosin said he appreciated this. 36 Commissioner Dorosin referred to the attachment, and the personnel support category. 37 He said virtually all of these will provide support to those departments who support the most 38 adversely affected populations by the pandemic. 39 Commissioner Price referred to bankruptcy- last bullet on qualifications— and that one 40 is not eligible if in bankruptcy before the pandemic. She asked if this is true of one's entire 41 history, or in more recent years. 42 Gary Donaldson said it is considers the past year. 43 Chair Rich said the last round of business grants was not given out completely, and 44 asked if these funds are available. 45 Gary Donaldson said staff will provide an updated report, and any residual funds will be 46 swept into this amount. 47 Chair Rich referred to the bankruptcy bullet, and said there are some businesses that 48 have received funding already and are not repaying the loan. She said she would not want 49 these businesses to get additional funds, if they are not paying back existing loans.