Businesses have an opportunity to apply for help through the LeeCARES Business Rehire grant program, beginning at noon on July 6. Assistance is available to eligible businesses (and some nonprofits) that are rehiring employees laid off or furloughed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants of $5,000 are available for each full-time employee (or full-time equivalent) rehired. Funds can only be used for operating expenses not covered by other resources. Businesses receiving the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) may be eligible if their covered loan period has expired. Businesses must have 250 or fewer employees, and the business owner must be a Lee County resident. Applications and additional eligibility requirements will be available online at LeeFLCares.com or by appointment by calling 239-533-2273.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday extended the moratorium for evictions and foreclosures until 12:01 a.m. Aug. 1.  The signing of “Limited Extension of Mortgage Foreclosure and Eviction Relief” extends the governor’s previous executive order that was set to expire July 1. The order temporarily assists Floridians who have had the COVID-19 pandemic impact their ability to make mortgage payments, WINK News reports.

To mirror what was in place during the Memorial Day holiday, Collier County beaches will be closed 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the Independence Day holiday weekend. The county commissioners’ action was taken during a special meeting Tuesday morning after Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties announced the closing of their beaches for the upcoming weekend because of an increase of coronavirus cases. The weekend restrictions for Collier beach hours will continue as long as beaches in Miami-Dade and Broward counties are closed. The commission also encourages people to wear face masks indoors in public places during the pandemic. 

The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has implemented new criteria for its Tax Increment Rebate (TIF) Program. Changes to the program will go into effect 30 days past the June 24 adoption date. Projects approved to participate in the program will be granted a 50% tax increment upon satisfying the TIF Rebate general requirements. Up to another 45% increment rebate is available for projects that choose to go above and beyond the basics, by incorporating one or more of these four new options: affordable housing, Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), contributing to community nonprofits, or the developer offering an out-of-the-box idea or concept directly informed by the developer’s creativity and experience. The TIF Guidelines and Application may be found here.

To further meet the needs of U.S. small businesses and nonprofits, the U.S. Small Business Administration has reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance program portal to all eligible applicants experiencing economic impacts due to COVID-19. For more information on EIDL programs, click here.

 

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