February 22, 2022     

Good evening, Partners.

On Monday we received a request from the NC Dept. of Revenue to share with you a new opportunity for COVID relief: Phase 2 of the Business Recovery Grant Program, with applications due in less than a month. We sent out the alert below earlier today.

Late this afternoon, we received the following update:

The NC Department of Revenue will temporarily pause accepting Phase 2 applications for Business Recovery Grants as the General Assembly considers increasing eligibility for additional types of businesses.

Legislation creating the Business Recovery Grants limited eligibility to businesses that collect sales tax and made ineligible certain types of service businesses that were severely impacted by the pandemic. Legislative leaders have expressed willingness to examine eligibility before remaining funds are awarded.

We will continue to process Phase 1 grant awards to approved eligible businesses. Additional applications will not be accepted at this time.

The pause in applications does not affect businesses that applied for grants during the original application period. Those businesses may expect to receive communication from NCDOR about the status of their application and payment within the next week.

We will continue to pass along information about this opportunity as we receive it.

~ The Team at Explore Asheville

Miss the deadline for a COVID relief grant?
HERE'S ANOTHER CHANCE

Businesses that may be eligible include:
ARTS | ENTERTAINMENT | RECREATION | HOTELS | RESTAURANTS | BARS | FOOD SERVICES | OTHERS

Business Recovery Grant Program Overview

Businesses that suffered economic loss during the pandemic may be eligible for a one-time payment of up to $500,000 through the Business Recovery Grant Program, administered by the N.C. Dept. of Revenue. Phase 1 of the Business Recovery Grant Program ended on January 31, 2022. 

Because funds allotted were not exhausted at the conclusion of Phase 1, NCDOR has re-opened the application process. Business owners who missed the first deadline now have until March 18 to apply.

SPECIAL NOTE: Businesses that applied for a grant during the first application period will receive communication about the status of their application and payment soon.

Two types of grants are available to eligible businesses (including sole proprietorships) that suffered an economic loss of at least 20% during the pandemic:

• HOSPITALITY GRANT: Available to eligible businesses classified within NAICS codes 71 (broad category of Arts, Entertainment, Recreation) and 72 (broad category of Accommodations, Food Services) and subject to NC income tax.
  
  
• REIMBURSEMENT GRANT: Available to an eligible business subject to NC income tax and not classified in NAICS Code 71 and 72 and did not receive funding from other relief programs including PPP, COVID-19 Job Retention Grant, EIDL Advance, SVOG, Restaurant Revitalization Fund.