New City of Toledo Emergency Microenterprise Recovery Grant

Thursday, May 07, 2020

Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, during a virtual news conference conducted with members of Toledo City Council today, announced the creation of a new emergency microenterprise recovery grant (EMRG) program.

The grant application period begins Monday, May 11, and closes at midnight, Sunday, May 24.

Fifth Third Bank was instrumental in creating the EMRG grant program by donating banking services and disbursing funds to grantees.

“The city of Toledo has established the emergency microenterprise recovery grant to aid in the economic recovery of microenterprises negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. “Microenterprises, the smallest businesses in our city, contribute greatly to the vitality of our neighborhoods, support families, create jobs, and are essential to the economic health of our city.”

The EMRG is a grant program designed to assist for-profit microenterprises to maintain or restart operations and retain jobs by
providing up to $5,000 for eligible operating expenses incurred between March 1 and June 30. The program is funded with $1 million of the $4.4 million COVID-19 CARES Act Community Development Block Grant Funds. The grants are subject to federal requirements. EMRG is a one-time program that will terminate once the grant funds are disbursed.

Priority will be given to businesses that have not received relief funding from the Small Business Administration. Due to the possibility of a high volume of applications and limited funding availability, the city may conduct a lottery to grant awards.

A microenterprise is defined as a small-scale business with five or fewer employees, including the owner(s).

Eligible applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Applicant meets at least one of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development eligibility requirements: owns a business located in a low-to-moderate income census tract or business owner’s household income does not exceed 80 percent of HUD area median income.
  • Applicant owns a for-profit business with an active registration with the City of Toledo, Division of Taxation.
  • Applicant is 51 percent + majority owner of the business.
  • Applicant is 18 years or older and a resident of the city of Toledo
  • Applicant will provide an employer identification number (EIN), and a social security number (SSN). An EIN is not required for sole proprietorships.
  • Applicant’s business has been in operation since Jan. 1, 2020.
  • Applicant’s business has no more than five full-time employees (including the owner) or their equivalent as of February 15, 2020.
  • Applicant and applicant’s business are in good standing with governmental entities (i.e. current on income tax, property tax, utilities, code violations, fees).

Ineligible applicants include:

  • Landlords
  • Realtors
  • 501(c)(3) organizations
  • Social service agencies
  • Religious institutions
  • Lobbying organizations
  • Applicant, and any owners thereof, who are employed by the city of Toledo
  • Other ineligible businesses include payday loan businesses, liquor and tobacco stores, pawn shops, firearm or other weapons dealers, adult entertainment, passive real estate investments, or home-based businesses operating without appropriate zoning and/or permits.

More information can be found, and applications may be filed, at https://toledo.oh.gov/emrgrant beginning Monday, May 11.

Please contact the Department of Economic Development at emrg@toledo.oh.gov or 419-245-1614 with any questions.

The news conference was streamed live on the city’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/cityoftoledo/. A recording can be downloaded until May 14, 2020 at this link:

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/9d49900fd0414f0a31d7cd158cfc399320200507191409/8540bfcb2a7b9823ae94dff2f3703bf520200507191410/bdd047.

The city of Toledo has compiled a list of services affected by the pandemic, and available resources, which can be found at this link:https://toledo.oh.gov/news/update-from-the-city-of-toledo-mayor/.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit www.LucasCountyHealth.com. The Lucas County Community COVID-19 call linenumbers are 419-251-4000 (English only) and 419-291-5355 (multilingual). The public is asked to refrain from calling 911 unless it is a true emergency. Call 419-213-4161, press 4, and leave a message to report COVID-19 related matters. The Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 website is www.Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov and the Ohio Department of Health hotline is 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).