Small Business

Henry County Small Business Restart Program

Program Description

Henry County Government will be accepting, reviewing and considering submitted applications from small businesses located in the county. This includes unincorporated Henry County and the Cities of Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough and Stockbridge.

The Henry County Small Business Restart Grant Program will offer one-time grants to small local businesses, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals to assist with their short-term financial needs. At this time, non-profit organizations are not eligible for these funds. However, separate funding has been allocated to assist non-profits.

Funds may be used to reimburse eligible, unbudgeted business expenses that are determined reasonable, not excessive, and necessary for the stabilization of the business.

Eligible Uses

Eligible expenditures are dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency and include, but are not limited to the reimbursement of employee wages and benefits (including, fringe benefits associated with employment, such as health insurance), accounts payable, fixed costs, inventory, rent, and utilities. Working capital, marketing/planning/feasibility studies, technical training, machinery, and equipment are also eligible expenses.

Ineligible Uses

Ineligible uses include relocating a business, renovations, paying off existing debt, reimbursement for cost incurred before March 1, 2020, start-up funds for a new business, and estimated revenue loss.

We will be accepting applications until all funding has been expended. Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Business owners applying for multiple businesses must submit a separate application for each business.

Funding reimbursement for small businesses available up to $10,000 per applicant.

Grant funds must be used for expenditures incurred by the eligible business on or after March 1, 2020 that meet the following criteria:

Necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19 (such as resulting from employment or business interruptions due to COVID-19).
Used for its working capital to support reimbursement of payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or costs related to reopening the eligible small business.

Only applicants who can demonstrate that private funding is either not feasible or not available (i.e. denial) will be eligible. Similarly, only applicants who can demonstrate that assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program did not exceed $150,000 will be eligible. Conditional to new information and guidance that is released, other funding sources may also be included as disqualifying factors at a later point.

Application Instruction

Please complete all questions listed below.

If you have any questions, please contact Henry County Government at (770) 288-6541 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. You may leave a voicemail outside of those times.

Eligibility

Small Businesses

Your primary office is physically located in Henry County, Georgia.
You employ twenty (20) persons or less.
Must be registered with the Secretary of State and provide proof.
Must be registered with the Henry County Business/Occupational Tax License Office or that of any of the municipalities within Henry County (Cities of Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough, or Stockbridge).
Must be private and for profit
Must be in an industry that has been affected by the COVID-19 emergency;
Must demonstrate with data and financial documentation that the income loss or cash flow decrease occurred because of the COVID-19 emergency; and
Must demonstrate the need for working capital for eligible expenses.

Examples of Small Business (but not limited to)

Restaurant/Bar & Grill
Retailers
Performance venues
Fitness Studio/Gym
Travel agency
Boutique Hotel/B&B
Salon/Barber Shop/Tanning Salons/Tattoo Parlors
Daycare

Independent Contractors/Self-Employed

You are a Henry County resident operating a business in Henry County as a sole proprietor.
Must be registered with the Secretary of State.
Must be registered with the Henry County Business/Occupational Tax License Office or that of any of the municipalities within Henry County (Cities of Hampton, Locust Grove, McDonough, or Stockbridge).

Examples of Independent Contractors/Self-Employed

Contractor
Landscaper
Freelancer
Web designer
Pet Groomer

Conflict of Interest

The award of funding and selection of applications shall be administered in compliance with conflict of interest provisions similar to those established at Section 4019 of the CARES Act to include the following:

No member of the Henry County Board of Commissioners or appointed official of the Henry County Restart and Non-Profit Assistance Review Committee who exercises or has exercised any functions or responsibilities with respect to the Small Business Restart Program or who is in a position to participate in a decision making process or gain inside information with regard to such funding, may obtain a personal or financial interest or benefit in any agreement or subcontract with respect thereto, or the proceeds thereunder, either for themselves or for those with whom they have family or business ties, during their tenure or for one (1) year thereafter.
The awarded small businesses or non-profits shall maintain a written code or standards of conduct that shall govern the performance of its officers, employees or agents engaged in the award and administration of contracts supported by Henry County funds.
No employee, officer or agent of an awarded small business or non-profit shall participate in the selection, or in the award, or administration of, a contract supported by Henry County funds if a conflict of interest, real or apparent, would be involved.
- Hatch Act
  
  All awarded small businesses and non-profits shall agree that no funds provided, nor personnel employed by an establishment assisted with Henry County funding, shall be in any way or to any extent engaged in the conduct of political activities in violation of Chapter 15 of Title V of the U.S.C.
- Religious Activities
  
  Per ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court faith-based organizations may not use direct government funding to support "inherently religious" activities, such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization.

Step One: Determine Your Eligibility

Before you start your application, please prepare the following documents. This grant is not intended to support new business start-up activities. You must show how COVID-19 caused your business to incur a loss, by providing documentation of a year-over-year decrease in sales and/or a year-over-year decrease in income and/or a year-over-year increase in expenses. If you do not provide the necessary documentation, it will delay the processing of your application and may cause your application to be denied.

For Small Businesses, Independent Contractors, or Self-Employed

Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (Look for this in the previously filed tax return. Name and address in this application should match your EIN registration).
Documentation of the business owner or owners’ state residency (such as a driver’s license or other State of Georgia issued ID).
Financial Documents
- 2018 federal tax return (Only applicable if you were in business in 2018 and cannot produce a 2019 federal tax return due to IRS extension.)
- 2019 income statement showing monthly revenue and expenses Feel free to use your own format, such as downloading from your existing accounting software or use this template https://www.practicalspreadsheets.com/Monthly-Income-Statement-Template.html
- 2019 federal tax return or IRS receipt for an extension (Personal tax returns will be accepted for independent contractors and self-employed individuals)
- 2020 year-to-date (January 1, 2020 – August 31, 2020) income statement showing monthly revenue and expenses to compare to the same period in 2019. Feel free to use your own format, such as downloading from your existing accounting software or use this template https://www.practicalspreadsheets.com/Monthly-Income-Statement-Template.html
- Supporting documentation for lost revenue since March 2020 through current (such as documented proof of canceled contracts and/or revenue-generating events, etc.)
Form W-9. Click Here for blank form from IRS
If you received funding from the Payment Protection Program (PPP), please provide a certified statement with signature to attest that the payment(s) did not exceed $150,000.

Business Legal Name: *

DBA or Trade Name: *

Employer Identification Number (EIN): *

CEO Name: *

CEO Email: *

CEO Phone Number: *

Address *

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

City State / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Ownership Classification

Minority-Owned means, as applied to an otherwise Eligible Business, that the Eligible Business is at least fifty-one percent (51%) directly and unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more, or any combination of: Black or African Americans; Hispanic Americans; Native Americans (Alaska natives, native Hawaiians, or enrolled members of a federally or State recognized Indian tribe); Asian Americans; Arab or Middle Eastern Americans.

Is the business minority-owned? *

Yes No

Woman-Owned means that the Eligible Business is at least fifty-one percent (51%) directly and unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more women in addition to meeting all other eligibility requirements.

Is the business woman-owned? *

Yes No

Veteran Owned means that the Eligible Business is at least fifty-one percent (51%) directly and unconditionally owned and controlled by one or more veterans of any military branch of the United States in addition to meeting all other eligibility requirements.

Is the business veteran-owned? *

Yes No

Eligibility Questions: Employees

How many employees did the business have as of March 1, 2020? *

What is the current number of employees? *

How many employees will be retained because of funding from this grant? *

How many years has the business been in operation? *

Eligibility Questions: COVID-19 Impact

Is the business in an industry that can demonstrate that it was affected by the COVID-19 emergency? *

Yes No

Describe how your business was adversely affected by COVID-19. *

0/1000

Does the business need working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses or other similar expenses? *

Yes No

Can the business provide proof of an income loss because of the COVID-19 emergency? *

Yes No

If yes to previous question, explain in detail your income loss (dollar amounts and budget categories) due to COVID-19 that should be reflected in your 2019/2020 income statements. *

0/1000

Did the business have 20 or fewer FTE (full-time equivalent employees) as of March 1, 2020 and as of the date of this application submission? *

Yes No

Does the business sell products and/or services physically, in-person (such as retail, restaurant, personal service, etc? *

Yes No

Has the business made attempts to introduce new products and/or service or adapt existing products and/or service offering to maintain revenue during COVID-19? *

Yes No

Organization Details

Does the business have multiple locations? *

Yes No

Does the owner have multiple businesses? *

Yes No

Conflict of Interest 24 CFR
This rule generally prohibits elected officials, and staff who are in a position to influence decisions, from receiving any benefit in federally awarded funds.

Conflicts prohibited: No covered persons, who exercise or have exercised any functions or responsibilities with respect to Henry County funding, or who are in a position to participate in a decision making process or gain inside information with regard to such assisted activities, may obtain a financial interest or benefit, or have a financial interest in any contract, subcontract, or agreement, or with respect to the proceeds of a Henry County assisted activity, either for themselves or those with whom they have business or immediate family ties, during their tenure or for one year thereafter.

Persons covered: The conflict of interest provisions above apply to any person who is a Henry County Commissioner or an appointed official of the Henry County Small Business Restart and Non-Profit Assistance Review Committee, or a staff member of the Henry County Financial Services Division.

Definition of Family or Business ties:

Family – “A group of people related by ancestry or marriage; relatives.”
Business – “The buying and selling of commodities and services; commerce, trade.”
Ties – “Something that connects, binds, or joins; bond, link.”

Having read and understood the Conflict of Interest prohibition as summarized above:

I (or we) acknowledge and disclose the potential of a Conflict of Interest, due to my (or our): being a covered person (Henry County Commissioner or an appointed official of the Henry County Small Business Restart and Non-Profit Assistance Review Committee, or a staff member of the Henry County Financial Services Division) OR having a Family or Business tieto a covered person (Henry County Commissioner or an appointed official of theHenry County Small Business Restart and Non-Profit Assistance Review Committee,or a staff member of the Henry County Financial Services Division.)

In the following space provided describe the Conflict of Interest or potential of a Conflict of Interest. Specify the source of the Conflict, such as name of department for which you are employed and job title or name of person(s) for which you have family of business ties.

OR

I (or we) certify, that I (or we) are not aware of any Conflict of Interest or potential Conflict of Interest that exists of myself (or ourselves) and any person who is a Henry County Board of Commissioner or appointed official of the Henry County Small Business Restart and Non-Profit Assistance Review Committee or a staff member of the Henry County Financial Services Division who are in a position to participate in a decision making process or are responsible for the administration or oversight of the Henry County Small Business Restart and Non-Profit Assistance Program.

Small Business Assistance Program Required Documents and Certifications

Please submit your documents in PDF format ONLY. Other document formats are subject to corruption and may delay or disqualify your application.

W-9 (a link to the blank IRS form can be found in the instructions.) *

Documentation of the business owner or owners’ state residency (such as driver's license or State ID card) *

Henry County Business License (required of all applicants) *

State of Georgia Secretary of State Certificate of Organization *

2018 Federal Tax return front page -AND- signature page (only required if you cannot provide a 2019 tax return due to official extension)

2019 Federal Tax return front page -AND- signature page *

2019 income statement (revenue and expenses) showing monthly totals (January 2019 through December 2019). A link to an example template is included in the instructions for reference. *

2020 Year to-date income statement (revenue and expenses) showing monthly totals (January 2020 through September 2020). A link to an example template is included in the instructions for reference. *

2019 Form 1120 or 1120-S or 1040 with Schedule C *

Supporting documentation for lost revenue from March 2020 through current, such as documented proof of the following: canceled contracts and/or revenue-generating events; canceled or delayed freight orders; employee refusals to work or customers not allowing your business in their homes due to COVID-19, etc. *

Certified Statement attesting Payment Protection Program (PPP) funding received was less than $150,000 (if applicable).

Certification of Compliance with No Conflict of Interest

I agree that the information herein is true and correct. *

Yes

Submit my application

If you have any questions, please contacted the Henry County Government at (770) 288-6541 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. You may leave a voicemail outside of those times.