City of Sammamish Small Business Support Grants

Support Grants.png

 

The grant application is now open through Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. 

Please read the information on this page before applying. 

APPLY HERE

 

About

The City of Sammamish is committed to helping its small business community recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Sammamish City Council has dedicated $250,370 in funding, which includes $98,370 from King County, to help local small businesses respond to impacts from the pandemic, begin to reopen, and expand operations.


Grant Details

Application Period: The application will open on 8:00 a.m. Monday, August 3, 2020 and close on 11:59 p.m. Thursday, August 20, 2020.

All businesses that meet the minimum eligibility criteria and submit complete applications before the application period closes will be eligible to receive a grant of between $1,000 and $10,000.

Grant funding will be distributed equally to all eligible applicants. If there are more eligible applications than the minimum grant level ($1,000) can support, grants will be awarded through a lottery.

Applicants will be notified of funding by September 8, 2020. 

If awarded, grant recipients will be required to enter into a grant agreement with the City of Sammamish and may be required to provide reporting and documentation of how the funds were spent. Grant recipients will also be required to submit a W-9.

Grant funds may be considered taxable income. Please consult with your financial advisor for guidance. A 1099 will be issued to grant recipients as required by the IRS. 

 

Eligibility

Eligible small businesses must meet the following minimum criteria:

  • A maximum of 15 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employees
  • Located within Sammamish City limits
  • An active Sammamish Business License
  • Been in operation since June 1, 2019
  • Experienced impacts from COVID-19
  • Businesses cannot be owned or partially owned by a current City of Sammamish employee or Councilmember or an immediate family member of a current City of Sammamish employee or Councilmember.

Nonprofit organizations are not eligible for this grant funding. Please watch the City’s website for more information on upcoming nonprofit funding opportunities.

 

Expenses

Allowable Expenses

Small Business Support Grants may only be used for the following allowable expenses incurred between March 1, 2020 - October 31, 2020:

  • Rent or mortgage payments for the business location
  • Wages, taxes, and benefits not already reimbursed by other grants or loans
  • Personal protective equipment, sanitizing supplies, or other expenses necessary to implement physical distancing (plexiglass barriers, etc.)
  • Typical operating costs and expenses
  • Typical draw or wages on a regular interval to owner consistent with those paid in previous intervals.

Grant recipients may be required to provide reporting and documentation of how these funds were spent.

 

Unallowable Expenses

Small Business Support Grants may not be used for the following unallowable expenses:

  • Expenses incurred prior to March 1, 2020 or after October 31, 2020
  • Expenses considered ineligible business expense by IRS
  • Political contributions
  • Bonuses to owners or employees
  • Wages to any member of owner’s family (not a bona fide employee)
  • Charitable contributions
  • Gifts or parties
  • Travel
  • Draw or salary to owner that exceeded the amount that they were paid on a weekly or monthly basis for the same period last year
  • Pay down or pay off debt by more than required in underlying debt instrument
  • Any expenses related to activities prohibited under COVID-19 guidelines, state, federal, or local law

 

Application Process

Application Period: The application is available at this link from 8:00 am Monday, August 3, 2020 and 11:59 pm Thursday, August 20, 2020.

Get Ready to Apply:

  1. Confirm your business’s eligibility
  2. Collect information needed for application:
    1. Legal name of your business
    2. UBI Number
      1. To view a copy of your business license, visit the Department of Revenue
    3. Calculate your business’s Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employees.
      1. To calculate FTEs: Add up the average number of hours paid per week for all employees. Divide that number by 40. Round to the nearest tenth. Visit this website for a calculator.
    4. A list of grants or loans provided to your business during the COVID-19 crisis and the amount awarded (examples: PPP, EIDL, Working Washington grant, etc.)
  3. Develop a plan for how your business will use the grant money. In 250 words or less, you will be asked to explain the effect of the public health crisis on your business, how grant funds can help, and why funding is critical to the business.
  4. Submit your application between 8:00 am Monday, August 3, 2020 and 11:59 pm Thursday, August 20, 2020

 

Questions? 

We are here to help! See our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below or contact Cassidy Follins, Grant Manager. 

 

Privacy Information

This application and any supporting documentation are considered public records and may be subject to public disclosure under Washington’s Public Records Act, chapter 42.56 RCW.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQs will be answered and updated throughout the open application period. 

 

What do I do if my question is not answered here?

Contact Cassidy Follins, Grant Manager.

My business received other COVID-19 federal funding. Are we still eligible for a Small Business Support Grant from the City of Sammamish?

Yes, but funding from these sources cannot be used for the same expense. Please include information about your additional federal funding in your grant application. 

How many employees can we have and be eligible for a grant?

Your total number of employees is not counted; however, they may not exceed 15 Full-Time Equivalent employees (FTEs). To calculate FTEs: Add up the average number of hours paid per week for all employees. Divide that number by 40. Round to the nearest tenth. Visit this website for a calculator.

We have a location in Sammamish, but our main office is not in Sammamish. Are we eligible?

Your business must have an active Sammamish business license and no more than 15 FTEs across all of your business locations. 

My business is a nonprofit. Can we apply for this funding? 

No, this grant program is only open to for-profit businesses. Stay tuned for upcoming nonprofit funding opportunities from the City of Sammamish. 

How will a grant lottery work?

Grant funding will be distributed equally to all eligible applicants. If there are more eligible applications than the minimum grant level ($1,000) can support, grants will be awarded through a lottery. For example, if 100 eligible small businesses apply for a grant, each eligible small business will receive a $2,500 grant. If 300 eligible small businesses apply for a grant, 250 eligible small businesses will each be awarded a $1,000 grant based on their selection during a lottery.