Greene County Commission begins second round of ARPA funding for small busineses

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited News Release/KY3) - Small businesses in Greene County may apply for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

The application period stays open for three weeks, lasting until October 4. The commission allocated $2.5 million for this round. County businesses with less than 100 employees are eligible for a maximum award of $49,999. Businesses can complete the application process at arp.greenecountymo.gov.

Lyle Foster, the Greene County ARPA Community Grant Specials, says home-based businesses are strongly encouraged to apply, but the funding amount won’t be the same.

“The base award is slightly less if you are a home base business, and the rationale for that is you are not typically paying a lease cost or mortgage cost of the commercial real estate market. But yes, you can be a home base business, and we welcome those applications,” says Foster.

The county will use federal ARPA guidelines to determine award eligibility. Businesses must demonstrate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and provide supporting documentation. Awards will be adjusted considering the size of the business and if it received additional pandemic funds.

“We will be looking at the applications the entire time. Applications have already started coming in today. Once the portal is closed, then we will be able to evaluate what the actual award amounts are. Then we will immediately work to start getting checks processed and get that assistance out to our community.” says Foster.

The eligibility criteria include:

• The business must be located in Greene County, Missouri.
• The business must be a for-profit or family-owned business that employs 100 or fewer employees, including the owner(s).
• The business must not employ undocumented immigrant workers and must be enrolled in E-Verify if they employ W-2 employees.
• The business must have existed in Greene County, Missouri, as of March 1, 2020.
• The business must demonstrate the existence of negative impacts incurred as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency since March 1, 2020.
• The business is not suspended or debarred from the use of federal funds.

Businesses can claim revenue loss mitigation as an allowable use of ARPA funding outlined by the U.S. Treasury Department. Funds may be used to mitigate financial hardship 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 utility costs, and other operating costs.

Businesses cannot use ARPA funds for the following expenditures:

• Paying non-business debt, such as personal credit cards, for purchases not associated with the business
• Personal expenses such as buying a new family car or making repairs to a home
• Direct financing to political activities or paying off taxes and fines
• Purchase of personal items
• The purchase of drugs, tobacco, and/or alcohol
• Food and entertainment
• Bonuses
• Travel not associated with direct business operations

Approximately $3.6 million was awarded to over 300 businesses in the county’s first round of ARPA small business funding in 2022.

“Small businesses and their employees are vital to our local economy and way of life,” said Commissioner John Russell. “They provide good jobs, services, and products to our community and a sense of connection that only comes from small business. We are thrilled to launch this final round of small business relief to those Greene County businesses that need it as we continue to make small businesses and their employees a priority.”

Greene County has received a total of $56.9 million in ARPA funds, which must be allocated by December 31, 2024. All projects funded by the county must be completed by December 31, 2026.

When it comes to verifying is a business is a legit business, Foster says they have safeguards in place, “We ask for documentation they are registered with the state, we look for business license with Greene County, or the municipality in which they are located. So, we make sure they are a legitimate business.”

For additional information or answers to questions, please contact the county ARPA team at arpinfo@greenecounymo.gov or 417-799-1563.

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