Second round of cash grants to be awarded in Yorba Linda's Small Business Relief Program

 

Grants for a second round of funding in Yorba Linda's Small Business Relief Program are expected to be awarded to some 25 local businesses, with checks of up to $5,000 issued to recipients early this month.

The smaller, second round follows an initial disbursement of nearly $1.75 million to 207 bus-iness owners, who received checks for $8,000 each, funded under the federal government's Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, known as CARES, adopted in March.

CARES funding totaled $2.2 trillion nationwide, with Yorba Linda's portion set by the county.

The second round is financed by funds remaining from the prior disbursement and $20,000 in city funds that had been budgeted for the canceled July 4 fireworks display. Application period for the second set of grants ran from July 27-29.

“Given the smaller amount of funding, it is highly likely that the number of eligible applicants will exceed the dollars available,” so grants might be “determined through a lottery process,” Pam Stoker, the city's economic development manager, recently reported to the City Council.

Both rounds of funding required the same proof of negative impact due to the coronavirus pandemic, including one of the following: forced shutdown under the state's stay-at-home mandate, revenue loss of 25% or more or layoff of at least one full- or part-time employee.

Other requirements: a for-profit business within city limits in a commercial, office or industrial zone; a full-time equivalent employee count of 1-25, including owner; active business license for past six months; and supporting documentation submitted with application.

And “businesses (are) encouraged to adopt and implement state and county guidelines for safe operating, including social distancing, sanitization, limiting occupancy, etc.,” according to Stoker's report. First-round recipients were not eligible for second-round funding.

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Yorba Linda also will receive $108,000 in federal funds to implement a “meal gap” program for seniors and “other vulnerable populations experiencing food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The county-distributed funds will finance a program that uses local restaurants to provide fresh boxed meals to supplement two existing programs that supply residents with frozen foods and groceries.

Participating restaurants would be required to suggest meal options at a fixed rate of less than $20 that would include a main course and any additional side dishes, according to a report to the council by Parks and Recreation Director Mike Kudron.

Other requirements include providing 100-140 meals on Mondays and/or Thursdays at the Community Center, with restaurant staff distributing the meals, and holding Orange County Health Care Agency permits for serving meals at offsite locations.

First distribution is scheduled Aug. 10. Funds must be spent by Dec. 30. Information: 714-961-7160.