Phoenix businesses struggling to stay current with city of Phoenix water and sewer bills can apply for financial assistance through the Phoenix Commercial City Services Bill Relief Grant. The city’s Water and Community and Economic Development departments are partnering on this new COVID-19 health emergency assistance program.
“The city’s grant program has been delivering to our businesses in a time of great need,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “We recognize that there are businesses still in need of assistance that are not eligible for existing programs. For those businesses, we’re offering a grant program to help with city utilities (water and sewer). This is a challenging time, and we are committed to working with our local businesses to see them through.”
The Phoenix Commercial City Services Bill Relief Grant is the latest offering for Phoenix businesses, adding $5 million to the $14 million previously allocated by the Phoenix City Council. The funding comes from the federal CARES Act and supports different grants for Phoenix businesses. These grants do not need to be repaid.
As with all the grants, the bill relief grant is open to Phoenix-based businesses operating since January 1, 2019. Businesses must demonstrate a gross sales decline of at least 25 percent when comparing March and April of 2020 with the same months in 2019. A business account must have been in good standing on March 1, 2020, to be eligible.
“Phoenix Water, in partnership with Community and Economic Development, called thousands of businesses directly, informing them of this opportunity to receive relief,” said Kathryn Sorensen, director of Phoenix Water. “Each customer that qualifies for this grant will receive a one-time credit applied towards their City Services Bill and will allow for vital utilities to be maintained to our customers.”
Apply for the City Services Relief Grant and find more information about all business grants available from the city on Phoenix.gov/Resources. Click the blue “For Businesses” button.
The Small Business Relief Grant, Round Two, awards up to $10,000 to businesses with six to 25 employees, and under $3 million in 2019 gross sales. The businesses must be located in or adjoining a Phoenix low-income neighborhood. The Phoenix IDA is offering this grant, with funding from the city of Phoenix through the federal CARES Act.
The Phoenix Microbusiness Resiliency Grant offers up to $5,000 to Phoenix companies of five or fewer employees, with less than $1 million in 2019 gross sales. Available for any home business, solo practitioner and mobile businesses headquartered in Phoenix. Eligible applicants include independent business owners who rent space within another business, such as a hairstylist or nail technician. Entrepreneurs and startups meeting basic requirements are also eligible.
The grants in the Phoenix Small Business Resiliency Grants Program will help more than 2,000 businesses through this challenging economic time. The Arizona Community Foundation is administering this grant program for the city. Applications for the small business grants are submitted to the Foundation at AzFoundation.org/PhxGrants.
