A state grant program using federal coronavirus dollars to aid small businesses is now accepting applications.
The website backtobusinessms.org opened for applications at noon Thursday.
The grant program, which Gov. Tate Reeves announced the creation of May 20, is to support small businesses of less than 50 employees and is funded through the CARES Act. It is designed to help the small businesses impacted by COVID-19 including assistance with operating and salary expenses.
Eligibility requirements, according to the website, include:
- Must be a for-profit corporation, limited liability company, a partnership or a sole proprietorship;
- Operating as of March 1, 2020;
- Is in good standing with the Mississippi Secretary of State's Office, if applicable;
- Suffered an interruption of business;
- Has a controlling interest owned by one or more Mississippi residents, whether individual resident citizens or Mississippi domestic business entities;
- Filed Mississippi taxes for tax year 2018 or 2019, or, for an eligible business formed on or after Jan. 1, 2020, intends to file Mississippi taxes for tax year 2020, unless exempt under state law;
- Has customers or employees coming to its physical premises, conducts business on customer premises or has an owner who is an active participant in the day-to-day operations of the business;
- Had no more than 50 full-time equivalent employees as of March 1, 2020;
- Is not a subsidiary of a business with more than 50 FTEs; is not part of a larger business enterprise with more than 50 FTEs and is not owned by a business with more than 50 FTEs;
- Does not exist for the purpose of advancing partisan political activities, does not directly lobby federal or state officials and has not employed or otherwise worked with a lobbyist in any way at any point during 2020;
- Does not derive income from passive investments without active participation in business operations.
Reeves also announced in his press briefing Wednesday that all government agencies in the state should be up and running by no later than July 1.
The curfew on bars and restaurants has been removed, but they still can only operate at 50% capacity. Gyms may now increase to 50% capacity instead of 30%.
Reeves also declared a state of emergency along the Gulf Coast after receiving damage from Tropical Storm Cristobal.
