CASPER, Wyo. — 2,781 applications for Wyoming’s $50 million COVID-19 related “Business Interruption Stipend” program have been received as of Wednesday, June 17, according to the Wyoming Business Council (WBC).
$3,070,819 of the $50 million available to provide relief for businesses impacted by the pandemic has already been distributed, leaving approximately $47 million yet to be distributed.
The WBC is administering the program and prioritized funding for businesses which did not receive federal Paycheck Protection Program funding and businesses which were explicitly impacted by Wyoming’s COVID-19 related public health orders.
Beginning at 1 pm Wednesday, the WBC will begin to process applications from businesses that did not receive any PPP funding and were not directly impacted by Wyoming’s COVID-19 related public health orders.
“Eligible businesses in any of the preference points are encouraged to apply at wyobizrelief.org,” the WBC said in a Tuesday release. “Business owners who successfully submit an application will receive a reply email confirming receipt of their application. There is no need to reapply. We are processing applications at a deliberate pace to ensure accuracy and security against fraud.”
The $50 million program is geared toward Wyoming businesses with up to 50 employees which were impacted by the pandemic. Grants of up to $50,000 are available.
The $50 million business relief program is the first of three the Wyoming Business Council is administering aimed to provide relief to business for COVID-19 impacts using federal CARES Act dollars received by the state. Those three programs are as follows:
- $50 million for the Wyoming Business Interruption Stipend program
- grants of up to $50,000
- available to Wyoming businesses with 50 employees or less
- $225 million for the Coronavirus Business Relief Stipend program
- grants of up to $300,000
- available to businesses with 100 employees or fewer
- $50 million for the Coronavirus Mitigation Stipend program
- grants of up to $500,000
- aimed to reimburse costs of personal protective equipment and other COVID-19 response costs
“The coronavirus created a storm that no one could have predicted or planned for, and which left many businesses drowning,” WBC CEO Josh Dorrell said. “These grants offer a lifeline; they are a hand up. Wyoming needs its small businesses to survive this storm today for the state to thrive into the future. Businesses that apply for these grants and continue to operate will contribute greatly to Wyoming’s recovery from the pandemic.”
The WBC’s website contains further information about the $50 million program, including the following:
-eligibility requirements
-an FAQ
-a grant amount calculator worksheet
-a link to register to receive Business Council media releases to keep up on the latest information about this and two future programs. Wyoming Business Council
Funding for the programs became available after the Wyoming Legislature allocated the $325 million in CARES Act dollars during a special session and Govenor Mark Gordon signed the legislation.
The legislation tasked the WBC with administration of the programs and Gordon and the WBC have worked toward emergency rules to get the programs launched, which the governor approved on June 2.
“The rules were adopted May 29 by the Business Council Board of Directors during a special meeting,” the WBC add. “The Business Interruption Stipend rules can also be found at rules.wyo.gov. They create a simple, secure way for the Business Council to put federal CARES Act money directly into the hands of eligible Wyoming small-business owners.”
The $225 million Coronavirus Business Relief Stipend program and the $50 million Coronavirus Mitigation Stipend program are expected to launch in July.
“Eligible businesses will be allowed to apply for more than one grant program,” the WBC has said.. “The Business Council has prepared a simple application and secure process to distribute Business Interruption Stipend funds as quickly as possible to Wyoming business owners whose operations have been negatively affected by the novel coronavirus.”
