Applications for this program closed on Friday, January 15 @ 5 PM.

On January 5, 2021, Louisville City Council approved a Small Business Preservation Grant program focused on assistance to those business types that have been most heavily impacted by capacity restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Select business types are eligible for this program: restaurants, bars, gyms, fitness users, and limited health care providers (acupuncture, athletic training, audiology, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathic, and physical therapy). 

Applications for the Small Business Preservation Grant program will open at 12:00 PM on Wednesday, January 13. Applications will close at 5:00 PM on Friday, January 15. All applications must be submitted electronically due to the short timeframe; only complete applications will be reviewed.

Funding

$500,000 in total program funding has been approved, which will be shared by the City's General Fund ($350,000) and Louisville Revitalization Commission ($150,000). The City anticipates awarding 100 grants if enough eligible businesses apply.

Eligibility

• Brick-and-mortar business licensed within the City of Louisville.
• Business was in operation as of March 10, 2020 (date of Governor’s emergency declaration).
• Business is currently open and not voluntarily closed (since no business types are closed by public health order).
• Business has suffered financial hardship directly resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Business is current on all City accounts (sales tax, use tax, and utilities), with the exception of payment plans. If a business has a payment plan established and is up-to-date, that business be considered current.
• Prioritize business types for funding. Staff will sort applications received into the three types and fund them in a priority order: restaurants/bars, gyms/fitness users, and limited health service providers. To perform a tie break when funding has been allocated, the last group of applications will be ranked in the order they were received.
• Must submit a complete and signed application, including program attestation.

Because the Small Business Preservation Grants are limited to defined business types, there is no eligibility restriction related to number of employees. Also, whether a business has received prior grant funding from the City of Louisville will not be taken into consideration in making these program approvals. 

Process

Only those businesses qualifying business types that meet all of the eligibility factors above and submit a complete application will be considered. Staff will process eligible applications in a timely manner, so applicants should supply contact information where they can readily be reached. Those applicants that are approved will be notified and then the City will process a check to the business at its Louisville address. Each applicant must submit a signed W9 in order for a check to be processed, as well as a Certificate of Good Standing from the Colorado Secretary of State.

Click here for a W-9 template. 

Those that apply and are not eligible will receive a notification of denial and reason, but this will occur after eligible applications have been processed. Grant recipients will be publicly announced and listed on this webpage. 

Questions

Any questions on the grant program or business eligibility should be directed to Economic Vitality Specialist Austin Brown at abrown@louisvilleco.gov or 303-335-4529. 

Grant Recipients

As a result of the Small Business Preservation Grant program, 59 grants were awarded. Approved applicants have been notified. $295,000 of funding will be disbursed to those approved.