Public health emergency grant program

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*NOTE: This section was created by temporary legislation that will expire on February 4, 2022.*

*NOTE: This section includes amendments by emergency legislation that will expire on October 22, 2021. To view the text of the temporary legislation that created this section, click this link: Temporary Version.*

(a)(1) Through November 5, 2021, the Mayor may, notwithstanding part B of subchapter XII-A of Chapter 3 of Title 1, and in the Mayor's sole discretion, issue a grant or loan to an eligible small business; provided, that the eligible small business:

(A) Submits a grant application in the form and with the information required by the Mayor; and

(B) Demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Mayor, financial distress caused by a reduction in business revenue due to the circumstances giving rise to or resulting from the public health emergency.

(2) A grant issued pursuant to this section may be expended by the eligible small business for any of the following:

(A)(i) Employee wages and benefits.

(ii) For the purposes of this subparagraph, the term "benefits" means fringe benefits associated with employment, including health insurance;

(B) Operating costs of the eligible small business including taxes and debt service; and

(C) Repayment of loans obtained through the United States Small Business Administration.

(b) The Mayor may issue one or more grants to a third-party grant-managing entity for the purpose of administering the grant program and making subgrants on behalf of the Mayor in accordance with the requirements of this section.

(c) The Mayor, pursuant to § 2-505, may issue emergency rules to implement the provisions of this section.

(d) The Mayor, and any third-party entity chosen pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, shall maintain a list of all grants awarded pursuant to this section, identifying for each award the grant recipient, the date of award, intended use of the award, and the award amount. The Mayor shall publish the list online no later than June 1, 2020, or 5 days following the end of the COVID-19 emergency, whichever is earlier.

(e) For the purposes of this section, the term:

(1) "COVID-19 emergency" means the emergencies declared in the Declaration of Public Emergency (Mayor's Order 2020-045) together with the Declaration of Public Health Emergency (Mayor's Order 2020-046), declared on March 11, 2020, including any extension of those declared emergencies.

(2) "Eligible small business" means a business enterprise eligible for certification under § 2-218.32, a nonprofit entity, or an independent contractor or self-employed individual determined ineligible for unemployment insurance by the Director of the Department of Employment Services, unless the independent contractor or self-employed individual is eligible for and receiving unemployment insurance benefits unrelated to their self-employment or independent contractor work and is otherwise eligible for a grant pursuant to this subsection.

(Oct. 20, 2005, D.C. Law 16-33, § 2316; as added June 24, 2021, D.C. Law 24-9, § 201(b), 68 DCR 004824; July 24, 2021, D.C. Act 24-125, § 3(e), 68 DCR 007342.)

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 3(e) of Public Emergency Extension and Eviction and Utility Moratorium Phasing Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-125, July 24, 2021, 68 DCR 007342).

For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 201(b) of Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-96, June 7, 2021, 68 DCR 006025).

For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 201(b) of Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Act 24-30, Mar. 17, 2021, 68 DCR 003101).

For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 201(b) of Coronavirus Support Second Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-405, Aug. 19, 2020, 67 DCR 10235).

For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 4 of Coronavirus Support Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-332, July 7, 2020, 67 DCR 8609).

For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 3 of Coronavirus Support Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-332, July 7, 2020, 67 DCR 8609).

For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 201(b) of Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-328, June 8, 2020, 67 DCR 7598).

For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 201(b) of Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-326, May 27, 2020, 67 DCR 7045).

For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 202(b) of COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 (D.C. Act 23-247, Mar. 17, 2020, 67 DCR 3093).

Temporary Legislation

For temporary (225 days) creation of this section, see § 201(b) of Coronavirus Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2021 (D.C. Law 24-9, June 24, 2021, 68 DCR 004824).


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