City of Middletown Business Operating Grant Program

Program Summary and Business Assistance Guidelines

The City of Middletown, through the Department of Planning, Conservation and Development, will provide operating assistance to business owners for the purpose of assisting small businesses to continue operations and keep residents employed.  As the City is utilizing federal Community Development Block Grant Funds, all operating assistance must be compliant with federal regulations.

Eligibility

Business must be Middletown based.

Business must have operated in the City of Middletown for a minimum of 24 months.

Business must be a for-profit United States Corporation, LLC, partnership, or sole proprietorship, and possess good character and reputation.

Applicant must be in good tax standing in The State of Connecticut.

Applicant must be compliant with the Connecticut Department of Labor Office of Unemployment Assistance and all applicable state and federal employment laws and regulations, including but not limited to minimum wages, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and child labor.

Business must be in operation, even if working remotely due to COVID-19.

Applicant must be in good standing with the City of Middletown.

Business must be owned by a low/moderate income household, employ full-time low/moderate income person(s)(or full-time equivalent), or create a position that employees a full-time (or full-time equivalent) low/moderate income person(s).

Assistance must result in continued employment of low/moderate income person(s) for one year from date of grant acceptance.

Feasibility 

Business must be able to demonstrate that the operating assistance provided will enable the business to continue to operate and to provide continued employment to low-moderate income person(s). Business must present a reasonable likelihood for long term viability.

Use of Funds

Applicant must demonstrate that the operating funds are necessary and sufficient, when combined with any other sources, to sustain the business and retain jobs.

Funding

Grant Amount

The City anticipates that the maximum assistance amount will not exceed $5,000.00. The amount will be based upon the documented need of the business and available resources.  Business must demonstrate losses greater than the requested and approved amount.

Due to the limitations of federal funding, the applicant is encouraged and expected to identify and apply for available resources.  Information on resources can be found at https://ctsbdc.com/ and https://www.sba.gov/.

Use of Grant Funds

Grant funds are intended to support ongoing operations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The approved use of funds is anticipated to be rent/mortgage, utilities, and other fixed costs.

Compliance

A formal agreement between the assisted business and the City will be required. This agreement will constitute the means by which the City enforces compliance with federal program requirements. The Office of Community Development is required to conduct regular periodic monitoring of each business to ensure that it is making good faith efforts to achieve employment goals and other program objectives.

Submissions

Prior to Submitting a complete application, please review the documentation below.  Applications will be able to be submitted as attachments to an email and sent to MiddletownCDBG@MiddletownCT.gov or the applicant can apply electronically via our online Application Submission Form.  Applications submission will begin on June 8, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Applications submitted prior to this date and time will not be considered and must be resubmitted at the appropriate time in order to be considered.

Application and Materials

• CARES ACT CDBG APPLICATION
• OPERATING EXPENSE REPORT/BUDGET

Your completed application, along with attachments, can be submitted electronically to MiddletownCDBG@MiddletownCT.Gov.  Application period begins at 8:30 am on June 8, 2020 and will continue until all funding has been allocated.

Please review all information prior to submitting!

Businesses can also apply electronically.  Click the link below to go to the CARES ACT CDBG APPLICATION PORTAL

CARES ACT EMERGENCY RESPONSE BUSINESS GRANT

Applications will only be accepted starting on June 8, 2020 at 8:30am.