SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — San Diego County Supervisors approved a small business relief plan on Tuesday. The vote determined how much money each district will receive from the program.
District 2 Supervisor Dianne Jacob recommended more than $4 million be handed out to small businesses. The individual grants are between $5,000 and $25,000.
The money for the program came from the federal CARES Act a few months ago. More than $20 million of the money is dedicated to this fund where each district has over $4 million to distribute. Around $700,000 has already been earmarked for restaurants.
All of the grants will be distributed in October with the deadline to distribute all money being October 31.
Four districts will receive these amounts:
- District 1: Roughly $3.9 million, which will be distributed among
506 businesses - District 2: $4.1 million, for 254 businesses;
- District 4: $2.5 million, for 493 businesses;
- District 5: $4.1 million, for 776 businesses.
There was no request for District 3, represented by Supervisor Kristin Gaspar, on Tuesday's agenda. Spokeswoman Itica Milanes said Monday that Gaspar would be submitting her grant proposals "possibly at the Sept. 29th board meeting."
Supervisor Jim Desmond, who represents District 5, said Tuesday that the money "wasn't enough to cover all the essentials, but we'll continue to fight to get those businesses open again and thriving."
Board Chairman Greg Cox, who represents District 1, said small businesses are the "backbone of our economy," and have weathered numerous challenges amid the pandemic.
These grants may seem small, to but those businesses which are struggling, "they make all the difference in the world," Cox said.
According to Steve Schmidt, Supervisor Dianne Jacob's spokesman, more than 80 of the recipients in District 5 are restaurants. There are also "many salons, barbershops and fitness-related businesses" receiving grant money, Schmidt said.
He added that in Jacob's district alone, there were more than 800 applicants, with a total of $95 million in requested funds.