District 12 small business owners can apply for a Mom and Pop grant

MIAMI – Miami-Dade County small business owners in County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz’s district (District 12) can now apply for up to $2,500 in grants from the County’s Mom and Pop Small Business Grant Program.

“This is a great program and I’m proud to be part of any effort to encourage entrepreneurship and support our small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy,” Commissioner Diaz said.

Applications are available through Jan. 18 at www.miamidade.gov/district12. They also can be picked up at Commissioner Diaz’s district office at 8345 NW 12th St., Miami, FL 33126. Completed applications will be accepted from Jan. 19 to 26 by 4 p.m. at Commissioner Diaz’s district office. No late applications will be accepted.

To be eligible, businesses must be located in District 12, have no more than 10 employees, be in operation for at least 1 year, and not be part of a national chain. Prior recipients may apply as long as they have not received funding for the previous two consecutive years.

A mandatory workshop explaining the requirements and how to complete the application will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Firefighters Memorial Building, 8000 NW 21st St., Miami, FL 33122. Anyone not attending will not be eligible to apply.

The Mom and Pop Small Business Grant Program was created to provide financial and technical assistance to qualified for-profit small businesses that are approved for funding. Mom and Pop Grants are administered in collaboration with respective County Commissioners’ offices.

The grant program benefited 44 District 12 businesses in 2016.

For more information, call 305-599-1200.