Maui Small Businesses Urged to Apply for Grants from New $3M Fund Starting Monday, Aug. 3

Mayor Launches relief fund to support small businesses. (7.22.20) PC: County of Maui

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino is urging small business operators to apply for grants of as much as $7,500 beginning Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, from the new Kōkua Maui County Small Business Recovery & Relief Fund to assist them with the impacts of COVID-19.

The Fund stems from a County of Maui partnership with local federal credit unions to launch a $3 million recovery and relief fund using CARES Act dollars to help small businesses.

Online applications for the grant program will be accepted starting Monday, Aug. 3.

The County of Maui is partnering with six chartered FCUs to implement the program: Maui County FCU, Maui FCU, Valley Isle Community FCU, Kahului FCU, Wailuku FCU and Maui Teachers FCU.

“I encourage small business operators to apply for this funding,” Mayor Victorino said. “We know they’ve been hard hit by the economic fallout of COVID-19, and we want to help our local businesses stay open and survive through this pandemic. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, employing many of our residents.”

The program covers reimbursable business expenses such as rent/lease payments, utility payments and COVID-19-related safety precautions at the place of business. The maximum award for small businesses is $7,500.

Businesses eligible to apply must:

• Have a physical commercial/industrial business location within Maui County.
• Have an active registered Trade Name with the Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA).
• Have a current General Excise Tax (GET) license as proof of registration for doing business in the State of Hawaiʻi.
• Have been established prior to March 20, 2019, which should be reflected on the business’ GET license as the starting date.
• Have less than $1 million in annual gross revenue.
• Be operating at time of application.
• Have not received a Micro Business Loan through the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

For information on the Kokua Maui County Small Business Recovery & Relief Fund, visit www.covid19mauinui.com/kokua-maui-county or call (808) 270-5745.