City reports on 83 business grants totaling $415,000

The Menifee City Council on Wednesday received a report on a total of $415,000 awarded to local small businesses by the City as part of a state and federal COVID-19 relief program.

The 83 grants, at $5,000 each, were part of a $1,198,820 award to the City of Menifee in September through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The City has funded four rounds of the Menifee CARES Small Business Relief Grant program, assisting businesses with rent, payroll and PPE’s during the pandemic.

According to Gina Gonzalez, economic development director for the City, all but two businesses that applied for a grant were approved. Those two didn’t respond with required documentation to complete the process, she said. Some businesses received more than one grant during the four rounds of funding.

According to the staff presentation based on input from local business owners, the grants saved 269 job locally.

To be eligible for the grants, businesses must be a private for-profit business; be located in Menifee; have fewer than 15 employees; have experienced a hardship due to the pandemic; and have a City business license in good standing.