Ohio Small Business Relief Grant

by Megan Hiles
Two smiling women in aprons, lookin at an open laptop.

State of Ohio Designates $125M of CARES Act funding to Small Business Relief Grants

Governor Mike DeWine recently announced the allocation of $125 million of federal CARES Act funding to provide $10,000 grants to aid small businesses hurt by the current crisis. Additional funding was also announced for bars and restaurants, higher education, and nonprofits and arts organizations.
The Small Business Relief Grant is designed to assist Ohio businesses that have been harmed by the effects of COVID-19. Eligible businesses must be a for-profit entity with no more than 25 Ohio employees paid via W2 wages as of 1/1/2020, determined either by a headcount or full-time equivalent employee calculation. The business must also have a physical location in Ohio and earn at least 90% of annual revenue based on activities performed in and taxable to Ohio. The business must have been in continuous operation since Jan. 1, 2020, except for interruptions required by COVID-19 public health orders, and have the ability to continue operations as a going concern.
In addition to the Small Business Relief Grant program, the state will designate $37.5 million of funding to provide $2,500 assistance payments to on-premise liquor permit holders to help them through the financial difficulties experienced during the pandemic.
Both programs, the Bar and Restaurant Assistance Fund and the Small Business Relief Grant program, will begin accepting applications on November 2, 2020 at 10:00 AM. As applications are approved on a first-come, first-served basis, grants will be awarded first from each county’s allocation.
Prior to Monday, we recommend reviewing the requirements and establishing an ID. Businesses can submit an application for the SBRG at businesshelp.ohio.gov. In order to access the application, individuals will be required to login using an existing OH|ID or create a new OH|ID, which provides users with secure access to State of Ohio services and programs. For more information on creating an OH|ID, please visit https://ohid.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/ohid/home.
If you have questions, please reach out to our Coronavirus Crisis Team, who is happy to help.

Archives