IRVINE- The City of Irvine today launched the Small Business Support Program to mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19 on local small businesses. Businesses located in Irvine with 25 or fewer employees are eligible to apply.
Funding for the program comes from a $5 million grant from the County of Orange, through the federally approved CARES Act. The Irvine City Council voted to implement the program at a special meeting on May 29, just days after the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved funding for districts.
Businesses that meet the program’s criteria can apply for one-time grants in the amount of $10,000. The grant application period ends on June 30, but grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible businesses.
To qualify, businesses must be located within city limits, and within the county’s 3rd Supervisorial District, which includes all of Irvine with the exception of Quail Hill, Shady Canyon, and Turtle Ridge. Applicant businesses must be operating or ready to reopen by July 1. The grant funds may only be used to cover credible business expenses related to COVID-19, such as purchase of personal protective equipment, payroll, capital, equipment, and operational costs.
Approximately $3 million in funding has been reserved for grants to sales tax-generating small businesses within the city such as retail stores and restaurants. An additional $2 million will be available for grants to other small businesses operating within the city.
The application and additional information is available at cityofirvine.org.
