The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a Federal economic relief package to protect the American people from the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19. The CARES Act is intended to provide fast and direct economic assistance for American workers, families, and small businesses, and preserve jobs for our American industries.
With its allocation of CARES Act funding, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners has created programs to provide immediate relief to all businesses and individuals across Miami-Dade from the impacts of COVID-19.
In addition to the countywide relief programs - that in the case of District 5 will mostly benefit the residents and businesses of the cities of Miami and Miami Beach - the Board allocated $75 million to reimburse municipalities for COVID-19 related expenses and $25 million in grants for municipal programs.
CARES Act funding must be spent by Dec. 30, 2020.
Miami-Dade Pandemic Assistance Program / $20 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-701-20)
Miami-Dade County is partnering with United Way of Miami-Dade to provide short-term assistance for basic living expenses through The Miami-Dade Pandemic Assistance Program. The Miami-Dade Pandemic Assistance Program aims to provide hard-working individuals and families with assistance for necessities such as food, utilities, childcare, medical expenses and rental assistance among others. The application portal has now been placed in a pause status and will be reopened if additional funds become available.
Emergency Rental Assistance Program Phase Two (ERAP) / $10 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-642-20)
This one-time rental assistance program is for low and moderate-income individuals who have lost income due to COVID-19. This program is still accepting applications. Learn more and apply here.
Residential Landlord and Tenant Financial Assistance Program / $10 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-686-20)
Residential landlords who own no more than five rental units and who provide rent forgiveness to tenants due to COVID-19 will be eligible to apply for a grant in an amount up to three months’ tenant rent, with a maximum $5,000 per unit. Learn more and apply here.
Military and Veterans Housing Assistance Program / $10 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-764-20)
The Miami-Dade COVID-19 Veteran and Active Duty Financial Assistance Program can provide up to three (3) months of past due rent or mortgage payments per household, with a maximum of $5,000 per household. Funds will be paid directly to the landlord or mortgage lender in the form of a grant by Miami-Dade County. Of the $10 million in program funding, the initial allocation will be $5 million for each of the two forms of assistance, rental and mortgage. Learn more and apply here.
Veterans and Active Duty Military Basic Needs Assistance Program / $5 Million
The Miami-Dade County COVID-19 Veteran and Active Duty Military Basic Needs Assistance Program can provide $1,000 of basic needs assistance cards for single applicants and $2,000 of basic needs assistance cards for households of two or more. The $5 million of program funds will be distributed on a first come first serve basis. Learn more and apply here.
Energy Bill Assistance (non-CARES Act funding)
Residents unable to pay their home energy bill due to the financial impacts of COVID-19 may now qualify for crisis assistance through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Households can receive up to $2,000 in a 12-month period to use towards their electrical bill. Learn more and apply here.
District 5 Retail Relief Program (non-CARES Act funding) / $100,000
Nonessential retail establishments in District 5 required to close during the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for a $1,000 grant to pay for rent or mortgage payments of their commercial space. Application and eligibility requirements can be found here.
Miami-Dade County Small Business Assistance Forgivable Loan Program / $10 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-583-20)
Small businesses with low-and medium-income workers can apply for a $25,000 forgivable loan for rent, payroll, personal protective equipment, and other expenses. To apply, contact Partners for Self-Employment or calling 786-605-8585, or Tools for Change at 305-200-5568.
COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund (non-CARES Act funding)
Small businesses and community-based organizations facing financial impacts and potential layoffs from COVID-19 can apply for up to $10,000 in grants to prevent potential layoffs or minimize the duration of unemployment resulting from layoffs due to the pandemic. Learn more and apply here.
RISE Miami-Dade Fund (Re-Investing in our Small Business Economy) / $25 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-557-20)
Administered by the Dade County Federal Credit Union, the RISE Fund is helping small/micro businesses to begin economic recovery through low interest rate loans. Applicants can seek up to $30,000 to pay for employee wages, inventory, payoff high interest debt, mortgage or rent payments, and utilities. Learn more and apply here.
Relief Non-For-Profit Organizations / $10 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-750-20)
Small nonprofit or non-for-profit organizations with 25 or fewer employees who can demonstrate financial loss due to COVID-19 are eligible to apply for a one-time grant for the payment of business expenses, including employee payroll costs. Applications are now open. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30 at 11:59 pm. Learn more and apply here.
Taxicab & Jitney Drivers Relief / $10 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-773-20)
Taxicab and jitney drivers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will be eligible to receive an emergency grant. Learn more and apply here.
Veteran Business Grant Program / $5 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-764-20)
Veterans with a valid honorable discharge who own a business and have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19 may be eligible to apply to the Veteran Business Grant Program. Business must have a maximum of 50 employees and an annual revenue that does not exceed $10 million. Learn more and apply here.
Hospitality (Restaurants) Industry Grant Program / $30 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-703-20)
Local, independently owned and operated restaurants and non-home-based caterers impacted by COVID-19 will be able to apply for financial assistance. Priority will be given to restaurants that have not received federal or state relief assistance and have a single establishment. Learn more and apply here.
SOBEWFF/FIU Chaplin School Hospitality Relief Fund/ $5 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-756-20)
Establishments forced to temporarily cease operations, layoff or furlough employees, or whose businesses have been severely diminished due to the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible to receive funds to provide continuity of compensation and other benefits to employees. Learn more and apply here.
Hotel Worker Relief Grant Program / $3 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-777-20)
Up to 2,500 unemployed or furloughed hotel workers will be eligible to receive financial compensation of $1,000 for successfully completing a hotel training workshop. The training workshop to be administered by Miami Dade College will include a curriculum for the professional development of hotel workers, including employment skills training, opportunities for advancement in the hotel industry, and exposure to other career paths. Learn more and apply here.
Miami-Dade Arts Support Grants Program / $10 Million (Authorized by Board Resolution No. R-771-20)
Grants for Organizations: Cultural and art institutions and organizations impacted by COVID-19 are eligible to receive funds for expenses directly related to COVID-19 including employee payroll costs, business interruption costs, support for programming, and re-opening expenses. To apply organizations must participate in on online grant workshop to learn about the application process and approved expenditures. RSVP here for one of the workshops.
Go to Grant Program information to learn more. Applications will be available Aug. 17 through Aug. 31 at 11:59 p.m.
Grants for Artists: Individual artists, creatives, and cultural gig workers who were negatively impacted by COVID-19 and had not already received support from the Miami-Dade Artists Support! (MAS!) Program had previously been eligible for a $500 grant. Applications for individual artists have now closed.
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