Thomas Fire and Debris Flow Business Recovery Grant

Announcement Thomas Fire and Debris Flow Business Recovery Grant

 

 

The Women's Economic Ventures is proud to announce a special opportunity for small and minority businesses that were adversely impacted by the Thomas Fire and Debris Flows that affected Ventura and Santa Barbara counties beginning on December 4, 2017.  Thanks to the generous contribution of Wells Fargo, Women's Economic Ventures (WEV) is pleased to offer business recovery grants of up to $10,000 to eligible businesses.  Below you will find the Grant Program Guidelines.  Application deadline is November 16, 2018.   Applications may be found online at https://www.wevonline.org/business-recovery-grants/business-recovery-grant-application/   Contact Nicki Parr at 805-456-2348 or at [email protected]

 

Background and Purpose
Seeing the need of local businesses in the wake of the Thomas Fire and Montecito Debris Flow events, Women’s Economic Ventures, in partnership with Wells Fargo, has developed the Business Recovery Grant Program to provide small businesses with $5,000-$10,000 grants, as well as training and consulting, to help them recover from the economic impacts of these natural disasters. Grant funds should be used to support a business’ recovery efforts (e.g. revenue re-acquisition through a specific marketing campaign, investment in upgraded website, revenue diversification, investment in increasing financial resilience and risk management).

Eligibility
To be eligible for a Business Recovery Grant, businesses must:

• Be an established business (able to show at least 18 months of business financial activity) with less than $1.5 million in annual revenues
• Be able to demonstrate and quantify impact of disasters on business
• Be located in either Santa Barbara or Ventura county

Preference will be given to applicants who meet Wells Fargo’s definition of a diverse small business: a small business owned by someone who is female, Hispanic, Latino, Black or African American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Multiracial, a veteran, or LGBT.

Applications will be available on October 16th, and will be accepted until 5 pm on November 16th or until 150 submissions are received, whichever occurs first.

Applications received to date: 35

Watch orientation video online here 

Important Dates
October 8th – 15th: Information sessions held (Haga clic aquí para Las Sesiones Informativas en Español)
October 16th: Application period opens (application made available)
November 16th: Application deadline
December 4th: Grant awards announced
December 31st: Grant agreements signed and funds disbursed

Application Checklist
All documents below must be submitted online or mailed/delivered in person to a WEV office by 5pm on November 16, 2018. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

◊ Completed grant application form (Click here to download a fillable version of the application)
◊ 2016 and 2017 business tax returns (personal returns will be accepted in lieu of business returns)
◊ 2017 and 2018 (as of June 30th) business financial statements (balance sheet and profit and loss statement)
◊ Copy of driver’s license or other government-issued I.D.

Still have questions? Click here or contact Nicki Parr at 805-456-2348 or [email protected].