The City of Largo’s Business Continuity Grant was established to assist small businesses that have experienced economic injury resulting from the Governor’s Executive Orders and Pinellas County’s order mandating that they close or partially close due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The program provides a $1,000 grant, on a first-come, first-served basis, for eligible businesses to assist with commercial rent or commercial mortgage assistance to aid in business continuity, community recovery, and to prevent business closures and the loss of jobs. Information regarding business eligibility is currently posted.
UPDATE: THE BUSINESS CONTINUITY PROGRAM WILL CLOSE SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2020 AT 9 AM.
Due to statutory authority, the City of Largo's Business Continuity Program will close on September 30th, 2020 at 9am. Applications and required documentation received after this time will not be accepted. Any business intending to apply for the program should complete and submit an application and all required documentation and signatures by September 16th, 2020 so the City may process the application, and if approved, disburse the grant funds. Please review the information below prior to applying.
BUSINESS CONTINUITY PROGRAM APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS MORNING OF MAY 1
APPLY NOW
Do I qualify for the program?
To be eligible for the program, a business must meet all of the following qualifications:
- Have a physical brick-and-mortar establishment physically located within incorporated Largo (mobile businesses, or home-based businesses do not qualify). If you are unsure if your building is located in Largo, use this link and enter in your address to find out.
- Have a City of Largo Business Tax Receipt that is current, as of March 31, 2020.
- Have no outstanding code enforcement violations
- Be an independently-owned and operated business. If the business is an independently-owned and operated franchise, other franchise locations must ONLY be located in the state of Florida and in no other states. If franchises are located in states other than Florida, the business does not qualify for the program, regardless if independently-owned and operated.
- Employ between 2 to 50 Full Time Equivalents (FTE) (or contracted equivalents). Please note, only one eligible business entity per certificate of occupancy will be awarded a grant, even if multiple business tax receipts, business entities or independent contractors exist within that same business unit, suite, or address. For example, a hair salon business that has multiple independent contractors or business entities within the hair salon will only be eligible to receive one grant total, and the independent contractors or business entities will not be awarded grants.
- If the business entity or the business owner owns the property in Largo, the business must have paid in full its 2018 property taxes.
- Be a business that falls under one of the following categories of businesses that have closed or partially closed due to Governor DeSantis' Executive Orders 20-68, 20-71, and 20-91, and Pinellas County's Resolution No. 20-23 and must have experienced substantial economic injury:
- Restaurants (includes full-service, limited service, and cafe establishments.
- Bars
- "Non-essential businesses":
- Acupuncture (unless service is under the care of a medical provider)
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Antique stores
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Auction houses
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Automotive tint, wash, detail, and accessory businesses
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Beauty supply stores
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Boat dealerships, rentals, and charters; kayak sales and rentals
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Bookstores, excluding adult bookstores
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Clothing and shoe retail, rental, or consignment
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Craft, art, and hobby supply stores
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Day/Beauty spas, hair or nail salons, and barber shops
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Décor and Lighting sales businesses
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Entertainment establishments, excluding adult uses regulated pursuant to Chapter 7, Part II of the Largo Code of Ordinances
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Florist businesses
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Fitness, Dance, Pilates, and Yoga studios and gyms
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Furniture stores
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Jewelry stores and jewelry repair businesses
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Massage (unless service is under the care of a medical provider)
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Mattress stores
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Music and instrument stores; music lesson providers
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Museums
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Optical retail stores (non-prescription)
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Painting, craft, or art studios
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Pet grooming businesses (including those co-located with pet retail stores)
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Pet sales and adoptions (excluding on premises animal care)
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Spa and hot tub sales businesses
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Sporting goods sales and repair businesses
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Stereo installation and sales businesses
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Tailors and alterations
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Toy retail stores, game, or amusement rental businesses, excluding stores that sell adult toys
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Video gaming retail or rentals
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Vitamin stores (unless service is under the care of a medical provider)
I meet all the eligibility requirements above. What documentation do I need to apply?
The application will require the following:
- A completed W9 form.
- List of all employee names
- Current City of Largo Business Tax Receipt Number, as of March 31, 2020. Don't know your Business Tax Receipt number? Look up the information on eTRAKiT.
- If the business was partially closed, provide one of the following:
- Proof of application for either the U.S. SBA Disaster Loan Assistance Program, Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, Economic Injury Disaster Loan, or the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act of 2020;
- Final determination of application for the U.S. SBA Disaster Loan Assistance Program, Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, Economic Injury Disaster Loan, or the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act of 2020;
- The last three months of Profit and Loss Statements that reflect a loss of revenues due to the partial closure resulting from orders by the Florida Governor and Pinellas County.
I meet the eligibility requirements and have the required documentation. Where do I apply?
The application will be available through an application portal at the following link:
https://portal.neighborlysoftware.com/largo/participant/Login
You will be required to create a username and password, and will be required to answer questions pertaining to eligibility and submit all documentation. The City has the right to request other applicable documents, as needed to determine eligibility, based on the funding program’s requirements.
Once you have created your username and password, you can check you status on the application portal.
I have submitted my application. When can I expect a response if I have been awarded the $1,000 grant?
The City will promptly review applications. Due to demand the applications will take 24 to 48 hours for initial review. All cases will be reviewed during business hours. Applicants can check their status on the application portal. Once the application has been deemed to be complete with all requested information, those applications that meet all requirements will be approved as long as funding is available.
Notification will be sent to the business and the grant payment will be processed by the City’s Finance Department for a check that will be mailed to the business address. If awarded the grant, the check can be expected approximately 10-15 business days after receipt of the approval letter. Applicants that do not meet eligibility requirements will be notified of denial.
Is there anything else I should know?
If a business is awarded the grant, they will be required to enter into a legal agreement with the City of Largo.
The program benefits are contingent on funding availability. The establishment of this program or submitting an application for such incentives shall not be construed as an entitlement or right of a property owner or applicant to grants and incentives under the Business Continuity Program.