Sept. 25 last day for small businesses in Otero County to apply for CARES Act grant funds

The deadline for Otero County businesses to apply to receive a Small Business Grant funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is fast approaching.

Otero County said applications are due by Sept. 25.

The County was awarded $1,688,750 through the CARES Act. 

This federal funding was awarded through an application process administered by the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration. Cities and counties were required to apply in order for the small business funds to be made available.

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Small businesses are eligible to apply for portions of the funding if it employees 50 or fewer employees. Additionally, the business must be headquartered in New Mexico, have annual revenues of $2 million or less, a business start date no later than March 1, 2019 and was either forced to close or had severely curtailed business operations as a result of closure orders due to COVID-19.

Allowable expenses for reimbursement under the Small Business Continuity Grant program include employee payroll, rent, mortgage payments, insurance, utilities, marketing, PPE for employees, and funding for business redesign.

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said in a August news release that the funding would be instrumental in southeast New Mexico economic recovery from the pandemic.

"Local economies in southeastern New Mexico have been especially hard hit during the Covid-19 pandemic," Henrich said.

“I remain committed to securing the resources New Mexicans need to protect public health, support families and workers, and rebuild thriving communities in every corner of our state.”

Find a copy of the business application form at http://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/nM-yC31rZ2hmqgWz4HgzOBa?domain=co.otero.nm.us. 

Questions can be directed to the Otero County Finance Director, Julianne Hall at 575-439-2704 or jhall@co.otero.nm.us

Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@currentargus.com, @JussGREAT on Twitter at by phone at 575-628-5531.