Small business owners in Camden County will soon be able to apply for Covid-19 relief grants up to $10,000 as the county prepares to allocate $20 million in federal CARES Act funding for the new program. 

Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said the funding, part of the $88 million the county received as part of the CARES Act, will prioritize businesses that have not yet received any federal or state assistance tied to Covid-19. 

“We want to help those who have not yet been helped,” Cappelli told the Philadelphia Business Journal Wednesday. 

In order to be eligible for the funding, businesses must have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, located in Camden County since at least Jan. 1, 2019, employed 25 or fewer employees as of March 1, 2020 and saw revenues of $5 million or less in 2019. 

The grant award amounts are based on businesses’ total 2019 revenue. Those that earned less than $25,000 could see grants up to $2,500 and those with revenue between $25,000 and $50,000 are eligible for grants up to $5,000. Businesses with revenue between $50,000 and $100,000 can receive up to $7,500. The maximum award for those that brought in more than $100,000 in 2019 is $10,000. 

The grants are open to nonprofits and sole proprietorships, but a few types of businesses are excluded: banks or other financial institutions, e-commerce businesses, businesses with age-specific customers like vaping and liquor stores, and franchises. Franchises that are completely locally owned and operated are eligible, however.

Businesses that have already received some type of government Covid-19 assistance are eligible, Cappelli said, but those that have not received any funding will be first in line. Aside from that prioritization, funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Unlike other Covid-19 financial assistance programs for businesses, there are no tight restrictions on how the grant must be spent. It can be used to cover any expenses related to losses from Covid-19.

The grant award amounts are based on businesses’ total 2019 revenue. Those that earned less than $25,000 could see grants up to $2,500 and those with revenue between $25,000 and $50,000 are eligible for grants up to $5,000. Businesses with revenue between $50,000 and $100,000 can receive up to $7,500. The maximum award for those that brought in more than $100,000 in 2019 is $10,000. 

The grants are open to nonprofits and sole proprietorships, but a few types of businesses are excluded: banks or other financial institutions, e-commerce businesses, businesses with age-specific customers like vaping and liquor stores, and franchises. Franchises that are completely locally owned and operated are eligible, however.

Businesses that have already received some type of government Covid-19 assistance are eligible, Cappelli said, but those that have not received any funding will be first in line. Aside from that prioritization, funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Unlike other Covid-19 financial assistance programs for businesses, there are no tight restrictions on how the grant must be spent. It can be used to cover any expenses related to losses from Covid-19.

Applications will be accepted beginning on July 23 at 8 a.m., and businesses can apply at www.camdencountycares.com and call 833-487-0462 with any questions. 

The application process is designed to be simple, Cappelli said, and the county is working with local nonprofits to spread awareness of the program before it opens, including the South Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the Latin American Economic Development Association, the Camden Business Association, the South Jersey Development Council and the Camden County Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

Based on the Covid-19 impact he’s seen in the county, Cappelli said he expects the funding to go quickly. 

“We believe there will be very high demand,” he said.

Besides the allocation for the grant program, about $25 million of the CARES Act funding Camden County received is being directed to county agencies and municipalities, which were notified about their portion of the funding on Tuesday. Another $25 million will go toward the hospitals that operate in the county — Cooper University Hospital, Virtua Health and Jefferson Health. 

The county will set aside $13 million or so to have on hand, and may make more available to small businesses based on demand for the new grant program. 

“We recognize the fact our small business owners are hurting big time and we want to get as much relief to them as possible in order to sustain our economy,” Cappelli said. “Clearly Covid-19 is going to have a horrific effect on the economic well-being of so many people and we want to lessen the pain as much as possible.”