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Press Releases - County Council

Council approves $5 million in additional emergency funding for local restaurants and retail shops

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Special appropriation spearheaded by Councilmember Navarro

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 21, 2020—Today the Montgomery County Council unanimously approved a $5 million special appropriation to expand funding for the County's newly created Public Health Emergency Grant (PHEG) program to provide additional financial assistance to local restaurants and small retail shops during the Covid-19 pandemic. All Councilmembers sponsored this special appropriation that was spearheaded by Councilmember Nancy Navarro.

Councilmembers have been working with local businesses throughout Montgomery County to address the financial impact that Covid-19 is having on the local economy. Restaurants and small retail stores have been two of the hardest hit sectors because these businesses operate on small profit margins even during robust economic times. The additional funding proposed by the Council would be used to provide grants directly to these businesses.

Under the PHEG program, businesses with 100 employees or less that are suffering economic impacts from Covid-19 are eligible to receive grants of up to $75,000 per business. The County will seek reimbursement from the federal and state government for any eligible costs.

This special appropriation is in addition to the $5 million reserved for local restaurants and storefront retail operations as part of the original $20 million appropriation by the Council to create the PHEG program through the County’s Economic Development Fund. The source of the funds is the County’s General Fund Reserves.

Montgomery County has launched a website for the PHEG program. The website provides information for businesses to prepare their grant applications. The online application is now open.

The Council staff report can be viewed here.

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Release ID: 20-163
Media Contact: Ikhide Roland Ikheloa 240-777-7924, Bertha Cerzosimo 240-777-7986