Raytown CARES Act Small Business Grant Program
Congress passed and the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, 2020. On August 18, 2020, the Raytown Board of Aldermen approved Ordinance NO. 5647-20, authorizing the request of available CARES funds from Jackson County for eligible expenses incurred between March 1 – December 31, 2020 and the creation of programs to assist the Raytown community.
The Mayor appointed an Ad Hoc Raytown CARES Act Business Grant Advisory Committee for the purpose of (1) recommending to the Raytown Board of Aldermen the priorities and guidelines for the Raytown CARES Act Small Business Grant Program, (2) administering the Grant Program, and (3) recommending grant recipients from the small business grant program.
On September 22, 2020, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen approved the priorities and program guidelines for the Raytown CARES Act Small Business Grant program. The program allocated $200,000 in CARES Act assistance to be distributed to small businesses experiencing financial hardship due to COVID19. The City received 56 applications submitted from diverse groups of business industries of varying sizes and years of operation. Over 31% of the entities requesting grant funds have been part of the Raytown community for 20 plus years.
On December 15, 2020, the City of Raytown’s Board of Aldermen approved approximately $226,000 of Raytown CARES Act Small Business Grant funds to be awarded to 28 Raytown small businesses and non-profits. The grant funds reimbursed eligible expenses, ranging from $1,367.38 up to $10,000, for brick-and-mortar businesses, non-profit organizations, and home-based businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
● Be negatively impacted by COVID-19 or was temporarily closed due to Jackson County’s order, and
● Have a current Raytown business license as of October 1, 2020, if not exempt by the State of Missouri per RSMo 71.620, and
● Have been established and operational prior to September 1, 2019.
FTEs equal the number of full-time employees (those working 30 or more hours per week) plus the number of hours worked in a month by part-time employees (those working fewer than 30 hours per week) divided by 120.
● Must have a current Raytown business license as of October 1, 2020, if not exempt by the State of Missouri per RSMo 71.620
● Must be current on Raytown Sewer payments as of October 15, 2020.
b. Businesses whose primary revenue is generated from rental properties (for example: office, residential, multifamily, or retail rental property)
c. Businesses with more than 50 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
d. Publicly traded companies: These firms are owned by the stockholders, who may not be local residents and are not involved in the day to day operations of the company
e. Businesses with unpaid code enforcement liens against them
f. Businesses with an owner, officer, partner, or principal actor who has a felony conviction for financial mismanagement within the last two years for which he or she is still serving a sentence (including prison, parole, and probation)
g. National or multinational corporate-owned franchises. Corporately owned chains are not eligible for the grant unless the business is individually owned by a franchise operator
h. Businesses whose primary revenue is generated from rental properties (for example: office, residential, multifamily, or retail rental property).
i. Adult entertainment
j. Gambling
k. Real estate operations (commercial and residential) and real estate investing firms
l. Any business operation prohibited by the Federal government
m. Government owned
b. Mortgage interest only
c. Payroll (W-2 wages only)
d. Utility costs for the business location (limited only to Water, Sewer, Electric, and Gas)
e. Purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other workplace improvements directly related to mitigating the spread of COVID-19
f. Remote access equipment, such as computers, software, and printers for employers to enable telecommuting to allow social distancing (cell phone service expenses are eligible if used for the business)
g. Inventory replacement, limited to spoilage of food relating to a temporary closure
b. Purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other workplace improvements directly related to mitigating the spread of COVID-19
c. Remote access equipment, such as computers, software, and printers for employers to enable telecommuting to allow social distancing (cell phone service expenses are eligible if used for the business)
b. Mortgage interest only
c. Payroll (W-2 wages only)
d. Utility costs for the business location (limited to Water, Sewer, Electric, and Gas)
e. Purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other workplace improvements directly related to mitigating the spread of COVID-19
f. Remote access equipment, such as computers, software, and printers for employers to enable telecommuting to allow social distancing (cell phone service expenses are eligible if used for the business)
b. Utility costs for brick and mortar location only (limited to Water, Sewer, Electric, and Gas)
c. Purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other workplace improvements directly related to mitigating the spread of COVID-19
d. Remote access equipment, such as computers, software, and printers for employers to enable telecommuting to allow social distancing (cell phone service expenses are eligible if used for the business) - new purchases only
e. Expenses incurred and documented for April 1, 2020 through October 16, 2020
b. Mortgage principal payment, mortgage insurance, real property insurance payment or property taxes
c. Non W2 wages
b. Year-to-date profit and loss statement for 2020
c. Completed Reimbursement Form with copies of expenses (utility bill, mortgage statement, lease agreement, sales receipt) and documentation of payment (front and back of cancelled checks, credit card statement, etc.)
d. Completed W-9
e. Two forms of ID (one with a picture) f. Tax Return for 2019 (1040 Schedule C, 1065, 1120, 11-20S)
g. Details showing other governmental grant or loan aid received (amounts, uses and timing)
h. Additional Information For Non-Profits only: Financial statement for 2019 and year-to-date
i. Additional Information For Non-Profits only: Copy of the IRS determination letter (which notifies or confirms that a nonprofit organization has federal tax exemption)
● Raytown non-residential, bricks and mortar business owned and operated by a Raytown resident
● Principle physical business operation is within the City of Raytown, even if business has multiple locations
● Sole proprietor, home-based business or franchisee employing at least one (1) person and no more than 50 people (FT or FTE) working at Raytown location or documented on payroll at the Raytown location. Full-time employee is defined as a person working thirty (30) hours or greater
● For-Profit business that holds a current Raytown business license (as of October 1, 2020), if applicable
● A 501 (c)(4) or (6) Non-Profit with a current Raytown address and employing at least one (1) full-time employee
● Priority given to businesses that have not received any PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) or other grant funds (prior receipt of PPP or other grand funds does not exclude a business from receiving Small Business Grant assistance)
71.620. Imposition of tax or license fee on certain professions prohibited — imposition of tax or fee prohibited unless business office maintained — limitation on business license tax amount in certain villages. —
1. Hereafter no person following for a livelihood the profession or calling of minister of the gospel, duly accredited Christian Science practitioner, teacher, professor in a college, priest, lawyer, certified public accountant, dentist, chiropractor, optometrist, chiropodist, physician or surgeon in this state shall be taxed or made liable to pay any municipal or other corporation tax or license fee of any description whatever for the privilege of following or carrying on such profession or calling, and, after December 31, 2003, no investment funds service corporation, as defined in section 143.451, may be required to pay, or shall be taxed or made liable to pay any municipal or other corporation tax or license fee of any description whatever for the privilege of following or carrying on its business or occupation, in excess of or in an aggregate amount exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars annually, any law, ordinance or charter to the contrary notwithstanding.
2. No person following for a livelihood the profession of insurance agent or broker, veterinarian, architect, professional engineer, land surveyor, auctioneer, or real estate broker or salesman in this state shall be taxed or made liable to pay any municipal or other corporation tax or license fee for the privilege of following or carrying on his or her profession by a municipality unless that person maintains a business office within that municipality.
a. Raytown non-residential, bricks and mortar business owned and operated by a Raytown resident
b. A for-profit business with a physical location of the business operation within the City of Raytown
c. A 501 (c) (3), (4), or (6) with a physical location of the business operation within the City of Raytown
d. A sole proprietor or home-based business with a physical location of the business operation within the City of Raytown
e. A franchisee only applying for one Raytown location and providing segregated financials with only information for the location included in the application
f. Priority given to businesses that have not received any PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) or other grant funds. (prior receipt of PPP or other grand funds does not exclude a business from receiving Small Business Grant assistance)
And all applicants must:
● Have at least one (1) employee and up to no more than 50 employees (FT or FTE) working at the Raytown location or documented on payroll of the Raytown location, and
● Be negatively impacted by COVID-19 or was temporarily closed due to Jackson County’s order, and
● Have a current Raytown business license as of October 1, 2020, if not exempt by the State of Missouri per RSMo 71.620, and
● Have been established and operational prior to September 1, 2019