Miami to distribute $8.5M in business grants and grocery gift cards for COVID relief
Miami’s city government will distribute $8.55 million in two COVID-19 relief programs meant to help support small businesses and help families buy groceries.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez requested a special commission meeting Wednesday morning to discuss how to quickly distribute the money, which will be reimbursed by Miami-Dade County using federal CARES Act dollars. Under federal rules, the money must be spent by Dec. 31.
Commissioners unanimously approved spending $3.55 million on about 14,000 grocery store gift cards worth $250 each. People living within Miami city limits who provide a state-issued ID and sign a sworn affidavit that they have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will be eligible for the gift cards. Assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Miami’s Department of Human Services will oversee the program. For more details on how to apply for the $250 Publix gift cards, the Herald has an explanation here.
The commission also voted to use an additional $5 million for a small business grant program. Businesses with annual revenues of $1 million or less will be eligible for grants of up to $20,000 or 20% of last year’s annual gross revenue, whichever is less, to cover expenses necessary to keep the business running. If after 25 days the funds are not exhausted, the city will lift the revenue threshold to $2 million. Nonprofits will be eligible.
The city’s Department of Housing and Community Development will administer the business grants. Proprietors will need to provide the city documentation showing the business is located within Miami city limits, proof of lost income, the business’ Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and an affidavit stating the owners have not used other federal funds to cover costs. Owners must also agree to allow the city to audit their use of the grants.
For more details on how to apply for the Business Assistance Grant Program, the Herald has an explanation here.
“We only have six weeks or so to get this money out,” said City Manager Art Noriega.
The program is the latest in a series of direct financial assistance programs run by Miami City Hall since the start of the pandemic. The city has distributed money to businesses, renters and homeowners using other federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Miami commissioners have wanted the power to distribute some portion of Miami-Dade County’s share of the $474 million in federal aid that was provided under the CARES Act, the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress in March. The funding spans aid for healthcare providers, local governments and direct assistance to U.S. taxpayers.
Tensions grew between the city and county governments over who should administer the money. In August, Miami Commissioner Alex Díaz de la Portilla accused Carlos Gimenez, then Miami-Dade mayor, of using CARES money to set up “political slush funds” to win favor with voters during his congressional campaign. Gimenez, who won that race, dismissed the criticism. He said the money was always intended for residents across Miami-Dade, including those in cities and in unincorporated areas. He cast city leaders’ criticism as an effort to claim credit for distribution of the aid.
On Wednesday, Suarez noted that he feels the city deserves a larger chunk of that money. He said he plans to meet with newly sworn-in Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to discuss steering more CARES dollars to the city.
This story was originally published November 18, 2020 at 11:42 AM.
