Nevada County Supervisors Allocate $250,000 from American Rescue Plan Act for Small Businesses

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Nevada City, CA – The Board of Supervisors allocated $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies to fund a fifth round of grantmaking by the Nevada County Relief Fund to support small businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. This allocation is part of the nearly $6 Million the Supervisors set aside for “Community & Economic Resiliency.”

“With this money from Washington, we can provide some immediate relief to our small businesses that have suffered so much already,” said Board Chair Dan Miller.

Eligible for-profit businesses countywide may apply for micro-grants up to $5,000 starting June 2^nd with applications due June 25^th.

“We applaud the Supervisors’ ongoing commitment to our small business community. With the State reopening this month, we hope these micro-grants help speed up recovery,” said Leo Granucci, the Relief Fund’s co-chair.

The Sierra Business Council (SBC) will manage the grant application process with oversight provided by the Relief Fund’s Community Advisory Council. SBC will provide awardees with one-on-one business counseling through its Small Business Development Center. 

“Across the board, Nevada County businesses are transitioning from relief to recovery, and their needs really run the gamut – from getting back on their feet after extended closures, to ramping up for summer, to navigating persistent challenges with hiring and supply chains. Nevada County Relief Fund has been a lifeline for many small businesses, and this new commitment will provide much-needed funding to assist in reopening the economy and transitioning to a new normal,” said Kristin York, SBC’s Vice President.

ARPA funds may be used to mitigate financial hardship resulting from the public health emergency such as declines in revenues or impacts of periods of business closure by supporting payroll and benefits costs, costs to retain employees, mortgage, rent, utilities costs, and other operating costs. ARPA funds may also be used to adopt safer operating procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Relief Fund requires all grant awardees to comply with all state and local COVID-19 public health regulations and guidelines.

About the Nevada County Relief Fund

The Nevada County Relief Fund was created through a partnership between the County of Nevada, Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation (fiscal sponsor), Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, the Sierra Business Council, Center for Nonprofit Leadership, and the Economic Resource Council.  

The Fund was established in April 2020 with a $100,000 “challenge grant” from the Nevada County Board of Supervisors to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. To date, the Relief Fund has raised nearly $1.3 Million to help dozens of small businesses and nonprofits countywide with nearly half the money raised from individual donations.

Please consider making a tax-deductible gift today. For more information, please visit: www.nevcorelief.org/donate