The Mayor and City Council has authorized the City to provide up to 50 small busineses located in the city limits with $5,000 in business assistance awards using funds the City received as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, known as ARPA. To be eligible, a small business must meet several requirements under the program.

This program is limited to small businesses, only with a maximum of 25 full-time employees.

The following business are not eligible:

1. Business owners who work for a local, state, and federal government (including school boards).
2. Elected officials.
3. Business who received any COVID-19 related relief funds, such as PPP, EDIL or American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) funds from any other entity, including Rockdale County, Georgia.
4. Non-profit organizations

I. General Requirements

   A. Must be a current City business owner for at least the previous 2 years, as of November 1, 2021. 

   B. Business owners must provide all the following:

       1. A copy of their valid, picture ID with the application; 

        2. A completed W-9;

        3. Copies of business license from 2019, 2020 and 2021; AND

        ​4. To verify there are less than 25 employees, provide copies of 2019 & 2020:  

            i. W-3- Transmittal of Wages and Tax Statements,  or

            ii. Form 1096-Annual Summary of U.S. Information Returns
 

II. Specific Requirements

     A. Business must have experienced revenue loss of at least 35% since March 1, 2020.

     B. The following items must be provided as proof:

        1. Annual Profit and Loss (P&L) Statement for 2019 & 2020

        2. P&L by month for 2019 & 2020

        3. Copies of one of the following for 2019 & 2020

             i. 1040 Individual Income Tax Return with a Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business, or

             ii. 1120 US Corporation Income Tax Return, or

             iii. 1120-S US Income Tax Return for an S Corporation for the past two years; AND

        4. Copy of the IRS transcript of submissions 2019 & 2020

NOTE: Non-Profit organizations are not eligible at this time.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED OR REVIEWED.