Two information sessions were held in the Council Chambers at Kenmore City Hall, 18120 - 68th Ave. NE, Kenmore

• Thursday, April 20, 2023 - 6:30 to 7:30 pm
• Thursday, May 11, 2023 - 6:30 to 7:30 pm

An audio visual version of the presentation is available here: https://youtu.be/haBSUvtxYXY

Questions gathered from the presentations will be posted soon in the FAQ section on this page.

(Updated 5-19-2023)

Small businesses and nonprofit organizations in the community are vital to the sustainability of the local economy and many have suffered significant and threatening economic loss due to the pandemic. As such, there is a continued need to provide ARPA funds to local businesses and nonprofit organizations to reduce economic hardships caused by the pandemic, avoid closures and the potential collapse of the local economy. The City believes that addressing the negative impacts of the pandemic on local businesses, nonprofit organizations and the local economy is a fundamental purpose of the government and will promote the public health and welfare.

The purpose of this grant program, called "Pandemic Recovery (ARPA) Grants for Kenmore Small Businesses and Nonprofits," is to respond to the negative economic impacts caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Helping small businesses and nonprofits survive government-mandated closure and other requirements, prevent permanent closure, comply fully with public health guidelines, and recover from the unprecedented impacts of the pandemic are all essential functions of government and will promote the public health and welfare.

Total grant funds awarded under this program will not exceed $185,000. Individual grant awards will vary in size but will not exceed $10,000 for any one entity.  The City must receive an application in the name of the organization for a business or nonprofit to be considered, but submission of an application is not a guarantee of an award. The City retains full discretion to determine eligibility, award amounts, timing of distributions, and number of awards granted based on the number and type of applications received. Awards granted under this program will not need to be repaid unless the applicant is found to be in violation of the terms of the award or provides false documentation. Please consult your advisor for legal or tax questions. An IRS Form W9 will be required from awardees prior to the distribution of funds, and a Form 1099 will be provided by the City to recipients after the end of the year in which the funds are distributed. Grant funds are not subject to state business and occupation (B&O) tax, public utility tax, or retail sales tax.

The City is required to report on the use of its ARPA funds. As part of this reporting, the City must be confident that an individual small business or nonprofit recipient experienced a negative economic impact due to the pandemic. Grants will not be awarded to a business or nonprofit that did not suffer a negative economic impact related to the pandemic, as demonstrated by an attestation and/or documentation provided by the applicant.  

Please note that any correspondence and attachments, including personal information, sent to and from the City of Kenmore are subject to the Washington State Public Records Act (Chapter 42.56 RCW) and may be subject to disclosure to a third party requestor, regardless of any claim of confidentiality or privilege asserted by an external party.

All applications will be reviewed to verify:

• Current license and Kenmore registration
• Compliance with the requirements of the grant award program as noted in the next section and in the application
• Eligibility of intended use of funds if awarded (please ask eligibility questions prior to submission of an application)

This program is open to small businesses and nonprofits that experienced direct negative economic impacts caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Businesses which received assistance in the 2022 Urgent Small Business Assistance Grant program are not eligible for this grant.  Applicants must:

• Have a business or nonprofit physical address within Kenmore city limits
• Be either an active and current small business in the City of Kenmore that is owned and operated independently from all other businesses OR a registered nonprofit [501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) per the SLFRF Final Rule - p160] formed under the Washington nonprofit corporation act with Kenmore as the sole registered location
• Attest to and, if requested, provide evidence that the organization suffered financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency
• Have a current WA State business license and Kenmore business registration, including an active Unique Business Identifier (UBI) number
• Demonstrate an establishment date prior to March 3, 2021 and a current active operational status
• Operate in one of the following categories
  • Business operating in a commercial space in Kenmore
  • Home-based business registered in Kenmore
  • Nonprofit formed under the Washington nonprofit corporation act with a registered Kenmore address (must be 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) as noted above)
• Be a business or nonprofit that is not currently in violation of any codes or regulations, including local, state and federal
• Use grant funding to respond to negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency for eligible expenses incurred since March 3, 2021
• Agree to spend all awarded funds in the calendar year in which they are received

The City is prohibited from providing grant funding to small businesses or nonprofits that did not experience a negative economic impact related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Proposed uses may be deemed eligible or ineligible based on the context of the application. 

Examples of ELIGIBLE Uses of Program Award Funds

Businesses:

• To address the public health impacts of COVID-19
• Mitigation of financial hardship from the emergency
  • Supporting payroll and benefits costs
  • Costs to retain employees
  • Mortgage, rent, utility, or other operating costs
  • Technical assistance, counseling, or other services to support business planning

Nonprofits:

• To implement COVID-19 mitigation measures
• To mitigate financial hardship caused by the pandemic
• Technical assistance or other services to respond to negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency

 

Examples of INELIGIBLE Uses of Program Award Funds

Businesses and Nonprofits:

• Any expenses incurred prior to March 3, 2021
• Political campaign contributions or donations
• Charitable contributions or gifts
• Replenishment of reserves
• Bonus payments to Recipient owners, officers, or employees
• Payment of wages to any member of the Recipient owner or officer family who is not a bona fide employee
• Draws or salary to Recipient owner that exceeds the amount paid over a corresponding interval, quarter, or year in 2019
• Paydown or payoff of debt
• Payroll and other employee- or business- or nonprofit-associated costs for which the Recipient has received or expects to receive reimbursement from other federal, state or regional funds (e.g., Payroll Protection Program or unemployment insurance)
• Damages covered by insurance
• Reimbursement to donors for donated items or services
• Severance pay
• Legal settlements
• Any expense not considered an eligible expense by the Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service

1. Attend an information session (strongly encouraged but not required). Information sessions will be held from 6:30pm to 7:30pm at City Hall on April 20, 2023 and May 11, 2023. Check this page for possible additional dates/times.
   Application Opens: April 17, 2023
   Application Closes: End of day on May 31, 2023
2. Identify eligible expense(s) for reimbursement or payment
3. Submit a completed application including an attestation of economic loss related to the pandemic. You may complete the website application form or pick up and submit a paper application at Kenmore City Hall, 18120 - 68th Ave NE, Kenmore, WA 98028
4. Staff reviews application for completeness and eligibility
5. Staff schedules interviews with eligible applicants to verify location of business/nonprofit and other eligibility requirements
6. If application is approved for funding, applicant submits W-9 to City
7. Grant funds are disbursed via check to eligible recipients after the next scheduled check run (City's accounts payable department prepares checks every other week)