County awards Small Business Boost Grants

LIHU‘E — The County of Kaua‘i announced it will provide grant funding to approximately 180 Kaua‘i businesses that remain on its application waitlist for the Small Business Boost Grant Program, which originally opened in August.

The program is funded by the county’s share of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The $7,500 grants will be provided to qualifying small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have experienced a loss of business or change in business due to the pandemic.

These businesses applied during the initial application period in August. However, the program’s $5 million funding was exhausted before their applications came up for review. The first $5 million of the Small Business Boost Grant funded 650 Kaua‘i small businesses.

“The County of Kaua‘i has been determined from the start to spend every dollar given to us through the CARES Act and ensure that funding goes directly into our economy and into our community,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami.

“As the year comes to a close and our deadline for the CARES Act grant draws near, our county agencies and grant managers are working meticulously to meet our goal. That’s why we have re-prioritized our CARES budget to provide an additional $1.35 million to our small businesses through this second round of the Small Business Boost Grant Program,” he said.

All 180 applicants on the program’s waitlist are being notified of their $7,500 grants.

The Small Business Boost Grant Program is administered by the following credit unions: Kaua‘i Government Employees FCU, Gather FCU, HawaiiUSA FCU and Kaua‘i Teachers FCU.

This program would not have been possible without their support, Kawakami said.