The Ottawa County Commissioners Mark Stahl, Donald Douglas, and Mark Coppeler have approved the use of up to $100,000 of federal CARES Act funds for the Ottawa County Small Business Relief Program. The program is to be coordinated between the Commissioners, County Auditor Jennifer Widmer and the Regional Planning Commission Director Mark Messa.

The new program will provide for-profit small businesses that are eligible with up to $5,000 to cover business interruption expenses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Business owners can obtain application materials from the Ottawa County website at www.co.ottawa.oh.us and click on the Small Business Grant icon for necessary documents.

Applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 17. To participate in the program, the business must have less than $1 million in gross annual revenue, have 30 or fewer employees or 1099 workers as of March 22 and experienced a decrease in gross revenue of 30% or more due to COVID-19.

All expenses must be related to the business interruption caused by COVID-19 and must comply with the program guidelines. Eligible expenses may include: mortgage costs; rent or lease costs; expenses for utilities; salaries, wages and compensation paid to employees; materials and supplies related to interruption of the business caused by required closures; and personal protective equipment or other COVID-19 related costs such as expenses related to compliance with Responsible Restart Ohio.

The application selection will be by random draw if total of applications submitted exceed the $100,000 allotment, rather than on a first-come-first-served basis.

For additional information or questions please email occares@co.ottawa.oh.us.