COUNTY OF TAOS
STATE OF NEW MEXICO
Jim Fambro District I
Mark Gallegos District II
Gabriel J. Romero District III
Tom Blankenhorn District IV
Candyce O’Donnell District V
Brent Jaramillo, County Manager
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES OF THE COUNTY MANAGER
BRENT JARAMILLO, COUNTY MANAGER
Office Phone – (575)-737-6304
Cell Phone – (575) 770-3907
LUPE MARTINEZ, DEPUTY COUNTY MANAGER
Office Phone – (575)-737-6321
Cell Phone – (575) 779-4630
105 ABRIGHT STREET, SUITE – G
TAOS, NM 87571
PRESS RELEASE:
Contact Information
Anissa Arrambide, Public Information Officer
575.737.6301
anissa.arrambide@taoscounty.org
RELEASE DATE:
October 1, 2020
CARES ACT SMALL BUSINESS CONTINUITY GRANTS FOR
TAOS COUNTY BUSINESSES
The State of New Mexico through Taos County is providing Coronavirus Aid Relief Funds to reimburse costs for expenses due to COVID-19. The CARES Act provides that payments from the Fund may only be used to cover costs that are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19); were incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020, and ends on December 30, 2020.
Taos County is making available up to $292,875 in grants available to assist businesses within the County limits. For-profit businesses in business prior to March 1, 2019 with 50 or less employees and an annual revenue of less than $2 million, who were forced to close or that had severely reduced operations because of the COVID state and local public health orders are eligible.
This grant is available to qualifying small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees in Taos County as long as funding remains for the program. The grant proceeds must be spent on eligible “business continuity” expenses. In addition, you may qualify for additional funding for “business redesign” expenses necessary to adopt COVID-Safe Practices, and eligible expenses for both portions of this grant program are outlined below.
To be eligible, your company must be located in Taos County and either have been forced to close or severely curtailed business operations as a result of closure orders from the state and have an annual revenue of $2 million or less prior to the impact of COVID-19. The business must also have had a start date of March 1, 2019 or prior.
Retail, manufacturing and service industry businesses will receive priority, along with “anchor businesses” that are significant employers, or that are considered important to the local economy or quality of life of the community.
Grants will first be prioritized to qualifying businesses and non-profits within the unincorporated areas of Taos County. However, any qualifying business physically located and operating within Taos County are encouraged to apply. We encourage businesses to first apply to the local municipality they are located that also received CARES Act Small Business Continuity Grant funds.
Professional corporations, government entities, foundations and non-profits are not eligible.
Owners may not be paid for their own compensation.
Documents that are required are as follows:
- Completed application form (submitted online)
- All documentation listed below are required upon execution of the grant award:
- Certificate of good standing
- Copy of your payroll to include March 1, 2020
- Most recent payroll at time of application
- Documentation of March and April 2019 total gross receipts
- Most recent taxes documenting net taxable income
- Unemployment insurance tax documentation for the fourth quarter of 2019
- Completed W9 Form
- Copy of Business Registration and County Vendor Certification Form
Eligible expenses include “business continuity expenses” (non-owner employee payroll, rent, mortgage, insurance, marketing, etc.) and “business redesign” to either increase employee/customer safety or for your business or to develop new methods of business because of COVID (plexi-glass barriers, drive-through windows, patio dining, PPE for employees and customers, etc.).
Grants may be for work completed after March 2020, in progress, or planned and to be completed by December 31, 2020.
Businesses may obtain the application and program requirements on-line on the Taos County website at www.taoscounty.org beginning 8am Friday, October 02, 2020. Applications will be accepted until October 16, 2020. Applications will be evaluated and award announcements will be made before November 6, 2020.