Grant Application Package for the

El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

“Work Safe. Work Smart…A Small Business Grant Program”

Completed Applications can be emailed to Jessica Estrada at Jestrada@ephcc.org or

hand delivered Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:30 p.m. to:

Ms. Elvira Soto, Project Coordinator

The El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
“El Paso County CARES Act” Grant Fund Selection Committee
2401 E. Missouri, El Paso, TX 79903
DEADLINE TO RECEIVE APPLICATIONS IS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 BY 5:30 P.M.

Please do not wait until the last day to submit your application!

For more information, please call Elvira Soto or Abigail Tarango at 915-566-4066.
Work Safe. Work Smart…A Small Business Grant Program
Objective:
Small businesses are struggling to make the necessary investments to protect their employees and
customers, the goal of this program is to help businesses improve safety measures so that customers
feel safe supporting local businesses and employees feel safe going to work. The County of El Paso
established the “Stay Safe Small Business Grant Program” with the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce in order to award $250,000 in grants to small and minority-owned businesses.

These grant funds can be used to purchase materials for pandemic related modifications to your
business, safety supplies, cleaning supplies, basic technology to allow you to operate more
effectively, to pay for current and/or past due business rent, current and/or past due business
utilities, as well as supplies to operate the business. The items purchased are meant to improve the
safety measures at your place of business, so that customers feel safe supporting local businesses and
employees feel safe going to work. The grants range from $1,500 to $5,000.

The El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications from Tuesday, November 24,
2020 through Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. Any small, minority-owned, women-owned
or Veteran owned businesses within the County of El Paso, but whose physical operations are located
outside the boundaries of the City of El Paso may apply (this includes Anthony, Vinton, and Canutillo,
Texas; Horizon City, Socorro, Fabens, San Elizario, Tornillo, and Clint, Texas).

Eligibility Requirements:
To be considered eligible to apply for a Stay Safe Small Business Grant, businesses must meet the
following requirements:
 The business must be registered as a small, minority, woman or Veteran owned businesses, and
be located in El Paso County, outside the city limits of the City of El Paso.
o Acceptable document could be an Assumed Name License or State of Texas business
filing, Texas State Sales Tax Certificate, or
o A utility bill in the name of the business, with an address indicating the business is
located outside of the El Paso City Limits
 The business must have been in operations since at least January 1, 2019 (in order to compare
economic impact of the Covid 19 pandemic). This grant is not meant for start up businesses.
 The business must be considered small, and employ less than 20 employees.
 Annual gross revenues for FY 2019 cannot reflect more than $1,000,000.
 The business will need to provide documented proof of being adversely affected by the Covid
19 Pandemic by providing either of the following (not both):
 2019 and 2020 (same month) Profit & Loss statement, or
 2019 & 2020 bank statement (same month).

Non-Eligible Businesses:
 Sexually Oriented Business as defined by El Paso City code.
 Any business that derives more than one-third of its annual income from gambling activities.
 Any business that engages in illegal activities.
 Any business that sells cannabis or cannabis related products.

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  Any business currently in an active bankruptcy.
 Church, religious institution or other non-profit organization.
 A government entity.
 A finance company.
 Business with a past due liability or tax lien against your property in the City/County of El Paso, Texas

Eligible Use of Funds:

 These grant funds can be used to purchase materials for pandemic related modifications to
your business, safety supplies, cleaning supplies, basic technology to allow you to operate
more effectively, to pay for current and/or past due business rent, current and/or past due
business utilities, as well as supplies to operate the business. The items purchased are meant
to improve the safety measures at your place of business, so that customers feel safe
supporting local businesses and employees feel safe going to work.
 This could include:
o Sneeze guards.
o Signage alerting customers & employees to social distancing and safety precautions.
o Personal Protective equipment for customers & employees.
o Protect signage to inform customers
o Floor decals for spacing
o Face Shields as opposed to cloth masks
o Wipes and disinfect products
o Internet access
o Software to be able to be virtual ready
o A flat screen
o A laptop
o Computer speakers (not sophisticated)
o Webinar camera
o Wifi extender to get better reception
o Hot spot when internet goes down
o Safety First Aid kits

Non-Eligible Use of Funds:

 Salaries or employee compensation, bonuses etc.
 Office supplies (unless Covid related sanitation products).
 Food or beverages (including lunches for vendors or staff).
 No snacks for customers.
 Entertainment expenses.
 Travel related expenses.
 Any other unrelated business expenses
 Cell Phone or extended minutes on cell phone
 TV with HD capacity
 Adapters
 Alexa type devices
 No sophisticated speakers
 No alcoholic beverages of any kind
 No medicines of any kind

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Grant Amounts:
 Grants will range from the minimum amount of $1,500 to the maximum grant amount of
$5,000.
 Grants will be awarded on the basis of need and benefit to the community.

Application Process:
 The owner of an existing business (must have been in operation since January 1, 2019) must
complete and submit all of the required forms (grant application package) included in this
document.
 The applicant submits the application to the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Program
Coordinator for review. The Program Coordinator will contact the applicant for missing or
additional information by deadline.
 After the deadline (Wednesday, December 9, 2020), the Program Coordinator will convene the
Grant Selection Committee, and submit all eligible and complete applications to the committee
for a selection recommendation.
 The Grant Selection Committee will use the Review Criteria established and included as part of
this document.

Monies issued after compliance with the criteria

 Monies will be issued within one week of approved selection.
 Owner must provide list of the items going to be purchased.
 Owner must provide receipts of what was purchased within 30 days of receipt of funds.

Grant Review Criteria:

 Was the business established on or before January 1, 2019.
 Is the business still in operation?
 Is the business located outside of the city limits, but within the County of El Paso.
 How will the funding be used?
 Is the application complete, and have all eligibility documents been received?

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“Work Safe. Work Smart…A Small Business Grant Program”

Please provide one original signed application and one copy of all supplemental materials in the
order listed below to :
The El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
“Stay Safe Small Business Grant” County Grant Selection Committee
2401 E. Missouri, El Paso, TX 79903

All exhibits should be current, and presented in the order provided. If a required exhibit is not
applicable to your business, place a sheet of paper at the appropriate letter and state this exhibit is not
applicable. All applicants must provide the following documents in order to be considered for a grant
through the “Stay Safe Small Business Grant”:

__ Exhibit 1: Completed and signed Grant Application.

__ Exhibit 2: Map printout indicating that business is located outside of the City limits, but in El
Paso County

__ Exhibit 3: Eligibility documents. Either of the following are considered “acceptable

documents”:
o A current (year to date) Business Profit & Loss Statement, and a comparison Business Profit &
Loss Statement from same month 2019.
o A current (year to date) Business Bank Statement, and a comparison Bank Statement from
same month 2019.

__ Exhibit 4: Assumed Name Certificate or DBA from the County of El Paso, Texas Sales Tax
Certificate (or other business document).

__ Exhibit 5: Completed “Client Information Form” from the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of
Commerce Business Development Specialist.

__ Exhibit 6: Use of Funds - Complete the Use of Funds for your proposed project. Very
important that your USE OF FUNDS must match your grant request.
If requesting rental assistance, we need specifics about the amount of monthly rent, how many
months are past due, and the name of the property manager or landlord (they won’t be contacted)
If requesting utility assistance, we will need a copy of the utility bill.

__ Exhibit 7: Identification - A current picture identification is required.

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 Work Safe. Work Smart…A Small Business Grant Program
Please complete the following grant application in its entirety. If an area doesn’t apply to you, please
indicate NA and continue with the application process. If you have any questions, please call 915-566-
4066 for assistance.

How did you hear about this grant program?

Amount Requested (must provide receipts within 30 days Grant Purpose:

of receipt of the grant): The funds should only be used to purchase materials for
 $1,500 pandemic related modifications to your business. The
 $2,000 purpose of the grant proceeds are to purchase supplies,
 $2,500 products, or infrastructure for your business to ensure the
 $3,000 safety of your customers, clients and employees and to
 $3,500 reduce the transmission of Covid 19 in our community.
 $4,000
 $4,500
 $5,000
Please answer all questions. This grant application will not be considered complete unless all
information is provided.
Business Legal Name (exact Title) Tax Identification Number Business Telephone

Email Address Primary Contact at Business

Business Street Address City State Zip Code Number of Business Locations

Business Structure: __ Sole Proprietor __ S/C Corporation __ Partnership __ Limited Liability Corporation __ Other (Specify)

Type of Business: __ Manufacturer __ Service Company __ Wholesaler/Distributor How long has the current ownership been
__ Retailer __ Other (specify: ____________________) in place?

Description of Business: Approximate Number of Employees Number of current

Revenue for 2019? at the end of 2019? Employees?

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 PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
(Please attach a separate sheet to explain all questions in which you answered “yes”.

1. Is the business involved in any litigation or other legal claims or procedures? ___ Yes ___ No

Explanation:

2. Has the business ever been through bankruptcy or settled any debts for less than the amount owed? ___ Yes ___ No

Explanation:

3. Does the business owe any past due taxes? ___ Yes ___ No

Explanation:

4. Is the owner a US Citizen? If not, please provide alien registration number:____________________________ ___ Yes ___ No

Explanation:

5. Are you presently under indictment, on parole, or on probation? ___ Yes ___ No

Explanation:

6. Have you ever been charged with or arrested for any criminal offense other than a minor motor vehicle violation? Include ___ Yes ___ No

offenses which have been dismissed, discharged, or nolle prosequi (all arrests must be disclosed and explained on an

attached sheet).

Explanation:

7. Have you ever been convicted, placed on pretrial diversion, or placed on any form of probation, including adjudication ___ Yes ___ No

withheld pending probation for any criminal offense other than a minor vehicle violation?

Explanation:

SIGNATURES
The information I/we have provided on this application is, to the best of my/our knowledge complete and correct. The El
Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce may verify this information and obtain additional information, including, but not
limited to requesting a consumer credit report, as necessary for credit review. This grant application is for businesses in the
United States authorized to do business in the state of Texas. The majority owner must sign this document.

Authorized Signature of Owner Date

Print Name % of Ownership

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Exhibit 6 - Use of Funds
Eligible businesses can receive grants from $1,500 to $5,000. These grant funds can be used to purchase
materials for pandemic related modifications to your business, safety supplies, cleaning supplies, basic
technology to allow you to operate more effectively, to pay for current and/or past due business rent, current
and/or past due business utilities, as well as supplies to operate the business. The items purchased are meant
to improve the safety measures at your place of business, so that customers feel safe supporting local
businesses and employees feel safe going to work.

Business Name Owner/Principal

Address City State Zip

Telephone Email Address

Description of Item to Purchase with Grant Source Cost

Funds. (Please be very descriptive). (Where will you purchase (receipts must be
these items. Provide the name of provided after 30 days)
your property manager or landlord
if you are asking for rent
assistance)

TOTAL $
(Note: The total amount must
match the amount of grant you
requested in the application)

Use additional sheets of paper if required.

If selected, receipts must be provided within 30 days of receipt of grant.