The Lorain County COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Relief Grant Program (the “Program”) is a grant fund that has been created in order to assist small businesses throughout Lorain County with the financial hardship imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally, the amount of the grant per business will range from $1,000 to a maximum of $2,500.

Grant Application

NOTE: New Applications are only being accepted for businesses located in the City of Avon. Due to the overwhelming amount of requests, new applications from businesses located outside of Avon are not being accepted at this time. Should all applicants that meet the criteria that have already signed up to receive grants get funded, we will reopen and take additional applications. Thank you for your strong response to date.

• Lorain County COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Relief Grant
  • Program Requirements
  • Application
  • Additional Information
    • W-9 Form
    • Instructions on completing and saving a fillable form

  Applications must be submitted electronically to agallo@LorainCountyChamber.com.

  Grant Information

  • All grant funds will be used solely for business-related expenses.
  • All grants made under the Program are being made with the intention:
    • to provide immediate funding to small businesses to meet their business needs,
    • to keep as many small businesses in Lorain County as operating, ongoing concerns, and
    • to retain as many jobs for Lorain County residents as possible in light of the severe economic hardships brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • All contributions of funds to the Program are made for the purpose of
    • furthering economic development,
    • preserving employment opportunities for Lorain County residents and
    • preserving the operations of Lorain County’s small businesses during a time of need and emergency.
  • The primary objective of the Program is to minimize long-term economic hardship to Lorain County residents that may result from the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Upon receipt of a complete application and all information required, the Grant Underwriting Team will give the application a sequential number indicating the order that the complete application was received.
  • On the day that grant funds are available, the Grant Underwriting Team will issue grant awards in order of sequential application number.
  • Grants will be funded to as many applicants until the funding is exhausted.
  • If additional funds are given for this program from either existing funders or new funders, we will continue providing grants to those businesses who have applied and did not receive funding not because they were ineligible, but because the fund was exhausted.

  This is a summary of the Grant Information. Read the Program Requirements for full details.

  Eligibility Requirements

  • • The business may be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation (both S and C), professional association, limited liability company, limited partnership or limited liability partnership.
    • The business must be privately held.
    • The principal place of business for the business must be located within the County of Lorain.
    • The business must have been in operation for at least one (1) year prior to March 15, 2020.
    • The business must employ between 3 and 20 individual.
  • The business must not be in receivership or bankruptcy.
  • The business must be current on all Lorain County municipal and Joint Economic Development District income tax obligations and Lorain County property tax obligations.
  • This program is for non-chain businesses only. Any business with more than 3 locations is ineligible to receive assistance under this program.
  • Ineligible businesses include:
    • any non-storefront based small business and/or homebased businesses, and the following sectors: (i) gas stations; (ii) professional services business (law or accounting firm; realty); (iii) any business that is an unregistered sole-proprietorship without any employees; (iv) any business allowed to continue operating through the mandated shutdown per Governor DeWine’s orders (restaurants with closed dining rooms ARE eligible).
    • Any business operating as an entertainment device arcade. Any business operating as a sexually oriented business as that term is defined in Section 2907.40 of the Ohio Revised Code. – Any business that primarily sells tobacco products, cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, or vapor products as those terms are defined in Section 2927.02 of the Ohio Revised Code. – Any financial institution that makes loans or issues credit to the public, including, but not limited to, banks, credit unions, payday lenders, or any other similar business.

  This is a summary of the Eligibility Requirements. Read the Program Requirements for full details.

  Final eligibility and ineligibility determinations and Grant Awards shall be solely at the discretion of the Grant Underwriting Team.