The Loudoun Is Ready Indoor Seating Grant (“The Fund”) is administered by the Economic Development Authority of Loudoun County, Virginia (EDA). Applications will be accepted starting on November 24, 2020, and remain open until applications exceed the allocated amount. Winners will be selected on a first-come, first-served, rolling basis, but announced as a group during the week of December 7, 2020.
In the event that an announced winner fails to satisfy any of the Terms & Conditions, the Loudoun County Government and the Loudoun County Economic Development Authority reserve the right to withhold grant funding and/or to later check on how awarded funds were spent.
All materials submitted to The Fund will be treated as public records and subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) rules and regulations. If you have questions or concerns about this requirement please contact the Department of Economic Development at 1-800-LOUDOUN before submitting your application.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a for-profit business located in Loudoun County operating a restaurant, winery, brewery, distillery, or tasting room. For businesses with multiple locations, the information provided for the grant must be specific to the Loudoun location(s).
- Businesses who have applied for funding for similar expenses from any of the incorporated towns in Loudoun are ineligible for the County program.
- Businesses must be appropriately permitted or approved for outdoor seating. This requirement will be verified with the Department of Building and Development, the Fire Marshal, and the incorporated towns as needed.
- Eligible expenses include the rental or purchase cost of tents, heaters, and fuel for the heaters. Additional expenses associated with tents, heaters or fuel for heaters are NOT guaranteed but will be considered for reimbursement only and with appropriate documentation at the discretion of the grant review team.
- Grant funds cannot be used to pay for or reimburse the cost of any associated permits, for any other operating expenses of the business, or to reimburse for sales tax on any eligible expenses.
- All eligible expenses must have been incurred by the business between March 1, 2020, and December 18, 2020.
- Businesses who have already incurred eligible expenses can provide a summary of and receipts for reimbursement up to $5,000 for the costs associated with renting or purchasing tents or heaters for outdoor seating and up to $1000 toward on-going expenses such as fuel for the heaters.
- Businesses who have not incurred the eligible expenses will be asked to provide additional documentation and to work directly with the County to provide additional documentation and to ensure the purchase has occurred within the grant and CARES Act timelines.
- Businesses must be certified by the Department of Building and Development, The Fire Marshal, and/or the incorporated town where the business is located as being permitted or approved for outdoor seating. For those seeking payment before purchase, the Department of Economic Development will work with the Department of Building and Development and the Fire Marshall to agree to a process by which a business can move forward with the process while ensuring any additional permits, beyond the requirements for outdoor seating, are in place.
- Grants will be issued to certified businesses on a first come-first served basis based on application time as indicated by the official application system.
How to Enter
To apply for The Fund, please complete the application found here: LoudounBusinessFund.org
Criteria
Applicant business must demonstrate:
- Must be a for-profit business located in Loudoun County operating a restaurant, winery, brewery, distillery, or tasting room. For businesses with multiple locations, information provided for the grant must be specific to the Loudoun location(s).
- Businesses who have applied for funding for similar expenses from any of the incorporated towns in Loudoun are ineligible for the County program.
- Businesses must be appropriately permitted or approved for outdoor seating. This requirement will be verified with the Department of Building and Development, the Fire Marshal, and the incorporated towns as needed.
- Eligible expenses include the rental or purchase cost of tents, heaters, and fuel for the heaters. Additional expenses associated with tents, heaters or fuel for heaters are NOT guaranteed but will be considered for reimbursement only and with appropriate documentation at the discretion of the grant review team.
- Grant funds cannot be used to pay for or reimburse the cost of any associated permits, for any other operating expenses of the business, or to reimburse for sales tax on any eligible expenses.
- All eligible expenses must have been incurred by the business between March 1, 2020 and December 18th, 2020.
- Businesses who have already incurred eligible expenses can provide a summary of and receipts for reimbursement up to $5,000 for the costs associated with renting or purchasing tents or heaters for outdoor seating and up to $1000 toward on-going expenses such as fuel for the heaters.
- Businesses who have not incurred the eligible expenses will be asked to provide additional documentation and to work directly with the County to provide additional documentation and to ensure the purchase has occurred within the grant and CARES Act timelines.
- Businesses must be certified by the Department of Building and Development, The Fire Marshal, and/or the incorporated town where the business is located as being permitted or approved for outdoor seating. For those seeking payment before purchase, the Department of Economic Development will work with the Department of Building and Development and the Fire Marshall to agree to a process by which a business can move forward with the process while ensuring any additional permits, beyond the requirements for outdoor seating, are in place.
- Grants will be issued to certified businesses on a first come-first served basis based on application time as indicated by the official application system.
Selection Process
- Applicants will submit their online applications through The Fund website during the open application period. The application calls for contact information, business information, and proof of purchase for eligible reimbursement or payment assistance.
- County staff will screen applications for eligibility and reach out for follow-up information, including business documents to be sent via email. Contact from a Loudoun County Government staff member at this point does not guarantee your selection for a grant.
- Applicants that can verify that they meet the grant criteria will funded until the available funds expire. At least 50 businesses will be awarded a grant of up to $5,000. All applicants will receive contact from Loudoun Economic Development to confirm their selection or non-selection.
- The EDA will disburse the funds to grant recipients starting in December.
Terms & Conditions
- Application for The Fund constitutes an unconditional agreement to and acceptance of the Terms and Conditions. The Applicant is responsible for ensuring his or her familiarity with the Terms and Conditions.
- By submitting an application, the Applicant certifies that it is not under any agreement or restriction that prohibits or restricts its ability to disclose or submit the materials included in the application or otherwise to apply for The Fund.
- Applicants acknowledge and agree that information submitted by Applicants will be used in the promotion of The Fund and will be displayed on public webpage(s) showcasing selected businesses.
- In consideration of the time, expertise and other resources provided by the EDA, the Applicant, to the full extent permit by law, by submitting an application voluntarily releases the EDA and the County of Loudoun from any and all claims, actions, damages, costs or liabilities of any kind relating to or arising from or in connection with the awarding, advertising, receipt, and/or use or misuse of grant or participation in any COVID-19 Business Interruption Fund-related activities
To apply, please visit LoudounBusinessFund.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the deadline for applying?
The application opens on Nov. 24 and will remain open until the number of applications exceeds the amount allocated for funding.
I previously received CARES Act funding from the county or my town. Am I eligible for this?
It depends upon what the funding was for.
If you received general COVID-19 business relief funding from Loudoun County or its incorporated towns, you are eligible to apply for this as well. If you previously applied for funding for similar expenses from any of the incorporated towns in Loudoun, then you are not eligible to apply for this grant as well.
I previously received COVID-19 business funding from a state, federal, or private entity. Am I eligible for this?
Yes. Funding from any other sources will not disqualify your application.
Will I have to pay taxes on this grant?
Yes. The IRS considers business grants as revenue for tax purposes. The money from the grant should be included when calculating the business’s taxable income. If your business receives funding and still operates at a loss this year, then it will not have a taxable income because it operated at a loss.
Are non-profit organization eligible to apply?
No. Businesses must be for-profit in order to be eligible for this fund. Loudoun County has made additional funding available for non-profits. Program details are still under consideration; please check Loudoun.gov for updates.
I'm having technical trouble applying. What should I do?
This is a web-based form only. It is strongly encouraged that you use the latest browser version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox in order to apply. Applicants using Safari may have difficulty signing up.
Although the application can be completed on mobile devices, we recommend using a desktop computer for the best experience.
If you started an application and forgot your password, please click this link to have an email sent to you that will contain a link to reset your password: Forgot your password?
If you complete the application, including all required fields, press Submit and DO NOT see a confirmation message on the screen, then your application has not been successfully submitted. Please contact loudounbiz@loudoun.gov and we will do our best to help.
If you do not have access to high-speed Internet, please visit the parking lots of the Middleburg, Purcellville or Lovettsville libraries for access to free, high-speed Internet.
Can I save my application and return later?
Yes. The form allows users to save their progress and return later. However, applications will be considered in the order that they were received. Delaying the submission of an application could impact your consideration for receiving funding.
Can I apply for multiple locations and/or multiple businesses?
Yes, please create just one username and password for multiple locations or businesses that you are applying for.
Each business must have a separate Outdoor Seating Grant Application under your account. You can add up to five locations for the same business under one application. If you own multiple businesses, you must add a separate Outdoor Seating Grant Application for each one.
How will my submitted information be used?
Submitted information will be used to determine the eligibility of the business applicant. Additional communication with Loudoun County Government staff will be to verify the information provided.
Information submitted for this grant becomes public record and subject to requests in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. We cannot exclude anyone’s submitted information from that process.
Why is this grant so specific?
We recognize that each eligibility requirement excludes businesses that need financial support, but the fund is intended as one piece of the county’s overall small business support during this trying time. We will be gathering all the information provided through the grant and directly from businesses in order to provide the Board of Supervisors with a full report.
What are the next steps?
Here is a brief description of the timeline between application, selection and the dispersal of funds.
November 24th at 10 a.m.: Application portal opens. Applicants will submit basic business information and all required documentation through the application system.
November 24 – December 7: Loudoun County staff will conduct the internal review process for certification.
December 18: All CARES Act funding appropriated for the grant will be expended or returned to the county.
Can I get this information in another language?
Businesses are encouraged to view the page using their browser’s translation tools and follow up with us at 1-800-LOUDOUN for more translation assistance.
In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Loudoun County Government is committed to ensuring that limited English proficient individuals have equal and meaningful access to county benefits and services. We utilize both phone interpretation services and written translation services when appropriate.
