The City of Miami will distribute $8.55 million in two COVID-19 relief programs meant to help support small businesses and help families buy groceries. Miami’s Department of Human Services Department of Human Services will administer $3.55 million on about 14,000 grocery store gift cards worth $250 each. People living within Miami city limits who provide a state-issued ID and sign a sworn affidavit that they have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will oversee the program.  

The City's Department of Housing and Community Development will administer business grants. Proprietors will need to provide the city documentation showing the business is located within Miami city limits, proof of lost income, the business’ Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and an affidavit stating the owners have not used other federal funds to cover costs. Owners must also agree to allow the city to audit their use of the grants. 
Administrators are expected to release more details on where and how to apply in the coming days. More information will be available through a link on the city website’s homepage, www.miamigov.com.

RISE Miami-Dade, the County-backed small-business relief loan fund, announces relaxed eligibility requirements, improved terms, new deadline to push distribution of millions in  CARES Act funds before end of year. New deadline to apply is December 20!  As local businesses continue to struggle to recover from the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, RISE Miami-Dade — the small-business loan fund Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners seeded with $25 million of federal stimulus money — just announced it is relaxing eligibility guidelines to allow more small businesses to access the relief program. 

In addition, RISE announced more favorable terms, a new deadline application and new phone service for application support. It is all part of an effort to ensure the approximately $14 million left in the fund is distributed before the federally mandated December 31 deadline, which calls for any stimulus monies not disbursed by then to be returned to the federal government. 
 
RISE also announced all loan applications must be submitted by December 20, 2020. Small businesses can apply online at RiseMiamiDade.com or call the fund’s newly introduced phone service at 305-593-3311.

CareerSource South Florida (CSSF) announces the COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund, which is designed to provide support to small businesses and/or community based organizations (CBOs) within Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, facing financial impacts and potential layoffs from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The funds will be provided as a reimbursable grant to small businesses and/or CBOs experiencing economic distress. The goals of the fund are to prevent potential layoffs or minimize the duration of unemployment resulting from layoffs due COVID-19.  

Eligible businesses and/or CBOs may receive up to $10,000.00 in COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund grant funds. CSSF will utilize the following scale to award grants:

• 3–10 employees up to $5,000.00
• 11–25 employees up to $7,500.00
• 26–50 employees up to $10,000.00

For further details Career Source South Florida. 

FPL is excited to announce the Florida Public Service Commission has approved the Main Street Recovery Credit Program aimed towards providing credits to qualifying small businesses that have been impacted by the pandemic.

Qualifying small businesses would receive a monthly 10% credit on the energy charge portion of their electric bill for the duration of the program. The company will implement the FPL Main Street Recovery Credit Program for qualifying small businesses in January and offer bill credits through the end of 2021. Establishments in FPL’s service area that are eligible to apply for the program include new small businesses, small businesses that were inactive for at least six months in 2020, and existing small businesses operating in federal Opportunity Zones in FPL’s service area. Beginning next month, interested businesses can apply for the program here.  

Smart Biz Micro Grant

• Provides access to digital tools to recover, adapt and thrive.
•  Up to $1,500 per business. 

Legacy Biz Grant

• Longstanding businesses with at least 15 or more years in the City
  Assistance with inventory, supplies and services. 
• Up to $5,000 per business

Regular Biz Grant

• Assistance with inventory, supplies and services
• Up to $1,000 per business

NoMi Delivers

• Provides assistance to offset the cost of delivery courier services with DoorDash, Uber Eats and other similar services
• Up to $10,000 per business

The South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC) has secured funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) to capitalize a small business revolving loan fund for business adversely impacted by COVID-19. These funds, provided pursuant to the March 2020 Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), will be administered by the SFRPC through its Revolving Loan Fund CARES Act Program.  Small businesses, sole proprietors and 501c3 Organizations located within Miami-Dade County are eligible for loan amounts ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 based upon the borrower's needs, repayment ability, and the amount financed.  For more information on program guidelines and to apply, click here.

The Miami Beach Restaurant Reimbursement Grant is open to restaurants in the city that are not part of a chain or franchise. Mobile food trucks, pop-up restaurants, carts, restaurants within hotels, nightclubs, bars without restaurants and home-based businesses are not eligible to apply. Participating restaurants may not have any outstanding code violations, liens, pending litigation, outstanding ad valorem property taxes and must meet all other program requirements.   Due to the volume of restaurants, this is a first-come, first-qualified, first-served grant of up to $1,000 in expense reimbursement for third-party delivery service fees. The program is available for eligible restaurants located within the city of Miami Beach.  Interested applicants can review program guidelines and or create a new profile to submit their application here.

The Miami-Dade Beacon Council is working together with Miami-Dade County, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) and other partner organizations to help our business community. We are prepared to assist your business during this period of hardship.  Assistance includes: 

• Identifying additional financial resources (grants and low interest loans) 
• Support with the application process/documentation requirements for approval  
• Referrals to business partners offering free and/or discounted assistance including Accounting/Payroll/Record Keeping, B2B Referrals/Opportunities, Marketing Support, Strategy & Business Plan Development Coaching, and more! 

To be referred to a business technical assistance partner, please complete the Small Business Needs Assessment Survey. 

Starting Monday, October 5th , the Emergency Rental Assistance Program will be reopening for phase two (ERAP2), allowing those struggling to pay rent due to COVID-19 to apply for up to three months of assistance.  Learn more about the program here.    Applications will become available online or if you need a paper application, they will be available at any of the four locations below. For any questions please email ERAP@miamidade.gov or call 305-723-1815. 
 
Northern Miami-Dade County
Victory Homes
520 NW 75th Street
Miami, FL 33150
 
Central Miami-Dade County
Donn Gardens
1861 NW 28th Street
Miami, FL 33142
 
Southern Miami-Dade County
Homestead Gardens
1542 SW 4th Street
Homestead, FL 33030
 
West Miami-Dade County
Lakeside Towers
7555 SW 152nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33193

Understanding the widespread financial impacts local businesses have endured as a result of the global pandemic, the City of Miami Beach is providing a relief to businesses by modifying the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Business Tax Receipt (BTR) renewal process. The BTR expiration date, usually due and payable before September 30 of each year, has been extended to December 31, 2020 — providing businesses an additional three months of economic recovery.   The city is also providing an option for businesses to split the FY 2021 BTR renewal from one payment to two payments along with further extending the due dates. The first payment of half the renewal fee is now due December 31, 2020 followed by a second payment due date of March 31, 2021. To request assistance as an impacted business or employee, please email ResourceCenter@miamibeachfl.gov with your contact information and needs.

Interested in being a part of a 6-month FREE F.E.E.D. Membership Virtual Bootcamp for local South Florida businesses, sponsored by Wells Fargo? There is still time to apply and receive free access to this virtual event! StartUP FIU Food FEED Virtual Bootcamp offers free online training to F&B business owners most affected by closures and layoffs caused by COVID-19 Pandemic. The six months of free access session includes: online consulting sessions in Marketing, Finance, Operations, and Food & Beverage on weekly online Zoom webinars conducted by industry experts

The F.E.E.D. Membership F&B Virtual Bootcamp will provide you with free online webinars, consulting sessions, and panel conversations regarding local resources for food and beverage businesses. Learn more.

Hotel employees who have been furloughed or lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic can now apply for admission into this program.  The Hotel Worker Relief Grant Program is a collaboration that brings together three key elements: Higher education in the form of MDC’s grant administration and curriculum activation, local government resources with the assistance of Mayor Gimenez's office, Commissioner Eileen Higgins and the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, and program development through The Greater Miami and Beaches Hotel Association. Together, this coalition of forces is focusing on providing real support to those in need.   For further details click here.

BizHelp.Miami is a one-stop portal featuring information about and access to the local, state and federal resources small businesses need in order to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus. Powered by the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the County's official economic development partner, the site features access to approved lenders, additional funding options ranging from loans to grants, and a vetted list of community partners that are ready, willing and able to help you better understand and successfully navigate the funding resources available to Miami-Dade small businesses, sole proprietors and independent contractors.

The NMCRA Board approved another $600,000 in funding for an additional 120 businesses (240 total) to receive the Emergency Relief to Jump Start Businesses. This one-time grant provides up to $5,000 to businesses only within the North Miami CRA boundaries for future operational expenses, including: rent, payroll, communications, utilities, etc. Funds will come into effect once the disaster declaration has been lifted, but small businesses can apply for the loan immediately. Candidates must have been denied for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan and Florida Disaster Loan programs. It is necessary for applicants to provide documentation of the application with receipt.

Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners created a $5 million Small Business Assistance Forgivable Loan Program (SBAFLP) utilizing the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds allocated through the Federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).  The loans will be up to $25,000, with 0% interest and no origination fees. The "forgivable" feature of the loan’s rests on the ability of the small business borrower to retain jobs that are held by those of low or moderate income, meaning those who earn less than 80% of the annual Area Median Income. In Miami-Dade County, the annual AMI for a single person is $51,200.  To be eligible, the small business must meet certain criteria such as: having no more than 25 employees, providing some evidence of being impacted by COVID-19, and not previously having received assistance from other special COVID-19 programs, such as the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Click here to learn more.  For more details, contact  Partners for Self-Employment and Tools for Change Tools for Change.

The mission of the FSMSDC is to link corporations and government agencies with Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) to foster business development and expansion. They continue to monitor the developments related to COVID-19, please visit FSMSDC regularly for updates on their virtual events, programs and services.

BBIF Florida is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), private non-profit loan fund that specializes in providing loans and financial technical assistance services to Black, minority & underserved small businesses throughout Florida.  

Accion is the largest nationwide nonprofit lending network in the United States. We provide fair and flexible loans, connections to business experts, and access to resources and opportunities specifically tailored to each business owner’s unique needs and goals.  Your South Florida contact is Fabiana Estrada, Director of Lending SE Region festrada@accioneast.com 305 699 0985. 

The situation sparked by COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is serious and quickly evolving, making the timely dissemination of actionable intelligence essential. The Beacon Council is committed to safeguarding the health and wellness of the community, and the local economy as a whole. They are gathering some of the latest, most relevant information and resources available for our business owners and workforce, updating their page on a regular basis.  Please email any Coronavirus-related questions directly to the team at BeaconHelp@BeaconCouncil.com or visit them at Beacon Council.

Whether you are a budding entrepreneur or a seasoned professional willing to share your expertise, Accelerate South Dade is there to unleash innovation and economic development in South Dade.  By supporting the work of entrepreneurial start-ups and small business owners in South Dade, Accelerate South Dade strives to spark growth creative local and inject a new level of energy, vitality, and dynamism into the local economy. For further details contact Danilo Vargas (786) 732-0774, dvargas@nanafl.org and visit Accelerate South Dade.

One of the largest and oldest Hispanic business organizations in Florida and one of the most influential minority business groups in the U.S. For more than four decades, their mission has been to foster the entrepreneurial spirit of Florida’s Hispanic and minority communities, and as such, it conducts programs to strengthen local business activity, promote economic development, facilitate international commerce, and serve the civic needs of the community. Through its Hemispheric Congress, CAMACOL provides businesses with the opportunity to establish commercial linkages in the international marketplace.

The Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce has business resources available to include the Micro Loan program. The mission of M-DCC is to create opportunities for economic and social transformation in our community. Please visit their website for more information. 

As part of its Business Disaster Recovery Assistance efforts, the Florida SBDC has compiled a listing of national, private sector funding opportunities designed to meet short-term business needs during this pandemic. Additional resources are added as they become available, so check back often.

The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One (SOBEWFF®) has launched the SOBEWFF® & FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Industry Relief Fund to provide immediate financial support to independently owned and operated restaurants and bars impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. The Fund has launched with an initial $1 million, including a founding donation of $500,000 from the Festival’s benefiting charity, Florida International University’s (FIU) Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, along with significant additional financial support from Founding Partners. Financial support will enable those owners to provide continuity of compensation and other benefits to employees who have been furloughed, laid off or whose incomes have been significantly reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, to donate to the fund, or to apply for a relief grant, please visit SOBEWFF Industry Relief Fund.

The Miami Foundation established The Community Recovery Fund providing critical help to Miami-Dade nonprofits, including arts, culture and humanities organizations. The Miami Foundation has seeded the Fund with a $300,000 contribution. The Knight Foundation has added $250,000 to the Fund. For more information, visit The Miami Foundation.

The challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic are as widespread as they are unprecedented, and The Children’s Trust is committed to doing its part by safeguarding and providing critical services and resources for all children and families in Miami-Dade County. As such, The Children’s Trust is working with community partners and service providers to ensure there are childcare options, resources and appropriate activities available for families who may need them. Click here to learn more.