Wow!  It’s the last week of June and first week of July and we have dipping temperatures and snow in the mountains.  You have to love Utah!  This weekend, we celebrate July 4^th, the birth of American Independence.  Although many holiday events have been cancelled, we can focus on the time with family and close friends.  I want to wish you all a patriotic, fun, and safe holiday.   
 
This morning, we heard from three of our Mayors – Mayor Ron Bigelow, West Valley City, Mayor Kristie Overson, City of Taylorsville, and Mayor Dirk Burton, City of West Jordan as part of our Tuesday Topics Online Program from 9:30 – 10:15 am.  They provided updates on what our cities are doing to support business today and in the future. 
 
The Salt Lake County Covid-19 Small Business Impact Grant program remains available for businesses severely impacted by the public health order closures.  Eligible businesses can receive up to $35,000 in grants which is being funded by $40 million of Salt Lake County’s CARES Act disbursement.  The application process opened on June 16^th and will continue until the funds are exhausted.  information about the Grant can be found at slco.org.  You can also watch a video tutorial at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPCTuH3i9Ek .
 
The COVID-19 Commercial Rental Assistance Program – “ComRent” - $40 million – Funds are still available for businesses who need rental assistance.  Changes were made to this program that began in April  and for those who have already applied, there is no need to reapply as you will be automatically reconsidered.  For those who qualify for additional grant money, checks will be mailed beginning June 30^th. Applications will be open again by July 1^st.  You can learn more at utahgoed.info/comrent. 
 
Work continues on the grant programs passed as part of HB5010 - COVID-19 Economic Recovery Grant Program, https://le.utah.gov/~2020S5/bills/static/HB5010.html/  These grants are expected to roll out on August 5^th.  More information will be provided as it becomes available.  Highlights include:

• COVID-19 Impacted Businesses Grant Program – “Shop in Utah” – $25 million – Establishes a tax-exempt grant program administered by GOED to provide grants to businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 in an amount equal to or less than the decline in revenue due to COVID-19 between March and June 2020. This grant can be used by businesses to offer a 50% spending incentive to stimulate sales at hotels, restaurants, guides, and outfitters.  Think buy one get one free or if a customer spends $50 the grant pays for $50 type offers.  Businesses should start working on a unique marketing offer and apply to GOED as soon as the application becomes available.

• COVID-19 Cultural Assistance Grant Program – $9 million – Establishes a tax-exempt grant program administered by the Department of Heritage and Arts in consultation with GOED to provide grants to organizations that provide a cultural, artistic, botanical, recreational, or zoological activity that encourages travel and tourism in the state.
• COVID-19 PPE Support Grant Program – “Safe in Utah” – $5 million – Establishes a tax-exempt grant program administered by GOED to provide grants to businesses to improve workplace safety for workers and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic through measures such as PPE purchases, workplace redesigns, signage, and technology solutions that allow for distance working. There may be a chance to use some of this for sanitizing labor costs.
• COVID-19 Displaced Worker Grant Program – “Learn and Work in Utah” – $9 million - Provides training for workers displaced due to COVID-19 by creating a program within GOED’s Utah Works and appropriating money to USHE’s Custom Fit program. It also appropriates money to DWS to create a dashboard to identify unemployment and job opening trends to better match workers with job opportunities.
• COVID-19 Outreach and Education Program – “Healthy In Utah” - $1 million - Creates a public information campaign to encourage healthy activity during the COVID-19 pandemic such as following health guidelines and not forgoing medical care including preventative care, urgent care, and vaccinations.