Along the Street: Business recovery grant applications due Dec. 20

The latest round of Yamhill County COVID-19 business recovery grants opened Friday morning with the 8 a.m. launch of an online application portal, at www.co.yamhill.or.us/covid-19-grant.

Awards will be up to $10,000 each. The county has $1.4 million in funding to distribute, part of the state’s $55 million fund for business relief. Application must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 20.

Grant recipients will be chosen through a lottery system. Priority will be given to entertainment, fitness, tourism, hospitality and event sectors, along with businesses forced to close due to the governor’s “freeze” orders.

Eligible businesses are those with 100 or fewer full-time equivalent employees as of Nov. 31, and fit within one of the following criteria:

- Businesses prohibited from operating as directed by Executive Order 20-65 (gyms/fitness, indoor rec, museums, indoor/outdoor entertainment, indoor/outdoor pools, sports courts, event venues, zoos, gardens, aquariums).

- Businesses in the tourism, hospitality, and event sectors impacted by Executive Order 20-65 (defined as restaurants, bars, wineries, breweries, lodging, caterers, and event rental companies).

- Rural businesses impacted by closure and change of service orders related to the COVID 19 pandemic and the Executive orders 20-12 or 20-65.

Cherina DK Hart, CPA