City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 21, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Consideration of the Reallocation of up to $1.5 Million in Federal CARES Funding for Round 2 of Small Business Assistance Grants and for Winterization and Outdoor Activation Grants.
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ISSUE: How to assist Alexandria small businesses during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council approve the allocation of federal CARES funding to the following business support activities:
1. Allocate up to $995,000 in additional funding towards the second round of small business assistance grants to be administered by the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP); and
2. Allocate $500,000 to initiate a Winterization and Outdoor Activation grants program for restaurants, retail and fitness businesses with permits/permission to operate outdoors, to be administered by the AEDP.
DISCUSSION: It is proposed that a portion of the second tranche of CARES monies be re-allocated at this time in the following manner by City Council:
(1) Allocate up to $995,000 additional CARES funds towards the second round of small business assistance grants to be administered by the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership (AEDP):
After significant outreach throughout the City, and the provision of two additional days for businesses to submit applications, Round 2 of the ALX B2B (Back to Business) grant program closed on October 7, 2020 with more than 400 completed applications. This is almost 100 more applications than received during Round 1.
Thorough review of the applications by staff teams is currently underway, to assure each application's eligibility and adherence to program criteria as well as verification of all materials submitted. Once complete, expected by the end of October, it is like...
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