Disaster Relief in Nevada County

The Nevada County Relief Fund exists to direct vital resources to our most vulnerable neighbors impacted by past, current, and future disasters.

Applications are not currently open for assistance. 

In the event of future disasters, here's how to apply:

1.  Please click the green “Apply” button on the right to apply online. (You will need a Gmail address to apply.)

2.  You may also download the application as a PDF document. Complete the application form, scan the form, and email it back to info@nevcorelief.org along with Proof of Residency.*

You may also hand-deliver/mail a hard copy of the application and Proof of Residency* to: Connecting Point office located at 208 Sutton Way, Grass Valley, CA 95945

*Please provide proof of residency at the address where the damage occurred. Sample documents are your state or federal tax return, voter registration, driver’s license or other government photo identification, or utility bills.

 

Round 5 Applications are Now Closed

The Nevada County Board of Supervisors allocated $250,000 of the County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies to fund a fifth round of the Nevada County Relief Fund (NCRF). NCRF provides economic relief and recovery support in the form of micro-grants to small businesses impacted by COVID-19.

ARPA funds may be used to respond to the public health emergency or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to small businesses, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality. All uses must comply with U.S. Department of Treasury guidelines.

Eligible expenditures include:

  • Adopting safer operating procedures (COVID-19 prevention or mitigation tactics, such as physical plant changes to enable social distancing, enhanced cleaning efforts, barriers or partitions)
  • Mitigating financial hardship resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency, such as declines in revenues or impacts of periods of business closure, for example by supporting payroll and benefits costs, costs to retain employees, mortgage, rent, or utilities costs, and other operating costs

Grant awards will depend on business size:

  • Sole proprietors (no employees other than the business owner): $1250
  • 2-5 employees: $2500
  • Greater than 5 employees: $5000

Businesses that have not previously received a grant from the Nevada County Relief Fund will receive priority. If you have previously received a grant from Nevada County Relief Fund, you are still eligible to apply.

Timeline

  • Grant window opens: Tuesday, June 2, 2021 at noon PT
  • Grant window closes: Friday, June 25, 2021 at 5pm PT

To apply to Round 5 of the Nevada County Relief Fund, businesses must meet certain eligibility criteria. All grants are subject to review and verification of eligibility. Please note that due to limited funds, not all applications submitted will receive funding.

Eligibility Requirements

  • For-profit business
  • Physically located in Nevada County
  • In operation as of March 1, 2020
  • Impacted by COVID-19 and associated public health requirements and guidelines
  • 2019 annual gross revenue less than or equal to $2 million, as demonstrated by 2019 business tax return
  • Viable business with financial need, as demonstrated by a 2020 profit-and-loss statement
  • In compliance with all state and local COVID-19 public health regulations and guidelines
  • In good standing with the County of Nevada and its municipalities
  • Not one of the following ineligible business types:
    • Professional services (law, accounting, engineering)
    • Construction businesses
    • Real estate agents and independent brokers
    • Independent vacation home businesses such as Airbnb or VRBO rentals
    • Independent transportation businesses such as Uber or Lyft drivers
    • Cannabis growers or related businesses
    • Construction businesses
    • Online retail operations
    • Financial businesses primarily engaged in the business of lending, such as banks, finance companies, and factors (pawn shops, although engaged in lending, may qualify in some circumstances)
    • Passive businesses owned by developers and landlords that do not actively use or occupy the assets acquired or improved with the loan proceeds (except Eligible Passive Companies under §120.111)
    • Life insurance companies
    • Businesses located in a foreign country (businesses in the U.S. owned by aliens may qualify)
    • Pyramid sale distribution plans and multi-level marketing businesses
    • Businesses deriving more than one-third of gross annual revenue from legal gambling activities
    • Businesses engaged in any illegal activity
    • Private clubs and businesses which limit the number of memberships for reasons other than capacity
    • Government-owned entities (except for businesses owned or controlled by a Native American tribe)
    • Businesses principally engaged in teaching, instructing, counseling or indoctrinating religion or religious beliefs, whether in a religious or secular setting
    • Loan packagers earning more than one-third of their gross annual revenue from packaging SBA loans
    • Businesses with a Principal who is incarcerated, on probation, on parole, or has ever been charged or convicted for a felony criminal offense
    • Businesses in which the Lender or CDC, or any of its Associates owns an equity interest
    • Businesses presenting live performances of a prurient sexual nature
    • Businesses deriving directly or indirectly more than de minimis gross revenue through the sale of products or services, or the presentation of any depictions or displays, of a prurient sexual nature
    • Unless waived by SBA for good cause, businesses that have previously defaulted on a Federal loan or Federally assisted financing, resulting in the Federal government or any of its agencies or Departments sustaining a loss in any of its programs, and businesses owned or controlled by an applicant or any of its Associates which previously owned, operated, or controlled a business which defaulted on a Federal loan (or guaranteed a loan which was defaulted) and caused the Federal government or any of its agencies or Departments to sustain a loss in any of its programs. For purposes of this section, a compromise agreement shall also be considered a loss
    • Businesses primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities
    • Speculative businesses (such as oil wildcatting)
    • Any other business type not on the list of most-impacted sectors listed above

The Nevada County Relief Fund does not discriminate in its practices in any way, including discrimination based on race, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS:

  • This grant is NOT first-come, first-served, so please take your time.
  • No applications will be accepted after the deadline of 5:00 PM PT on Friday, June 25, 2021. There will be no exceptions, so please plan accordingly.
  • Business owners with multiple businesses are eligible to receive only one grant. Duplicate applications will be deleted.
  • Business owners with multiple businesses are eligible to receive only one grant in this round of NCRF (Round 5). Duplicate applications will be deleted. If you previously received a NCRF grant, you are still eligible to apply.
  • No changes will be allowed after submission. Please read questions carefully and plan to ensure that you have adequate time to complete the application accurately.

 

Click "Apply Here" below and you will be directed to the Sierra Business Council's grant application form.  Please note: all new users will be required to create a profile login before completing the grant application.

If you need help with your application, please email info@nevcorelief.org.