A $20 million fund will be allotted to support small businesses in Santa Clara County.
The amount, which is sourced from the Federal American Rescue Plan, got the nod from the county’s Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, KRON4 reported.
The need has been massive for small businesses and for dining establishments that hope for the customers to return.
Businesses struggling to remain afloat amid the pandemic will get additional help from the fund.
Among them is the Haberdasher in San Jose that had been working to remain open.
Small businesses are still dealing with pandemic struggles even with the progress on the COVID-19 battle.
Several customers of Cache Bouren have not come back due to health concerns. Its regular clients from the downtown have also adopted a work-from-home arrangement.
Bouren is holding on to hope that his bars along Santa Clara County, along with other small businesses, can survive.
Hope indeed arrived with the coming $20 million to aid businesses through the American Rescue Plan Act.
The proposal for the aid was pushed by Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee who said that many dining establishments, cafes, bars, and gyms need help even after the county has distributed over $700, 000 it gathered through health protocol violations.
The county website will be the venue for applications and Supervisor Lee urges businesses to file early applications.
Furthermore, he said that the county board is also considering the fee waiver programs to become extra hands to help the businesses.
The funds are hoped to become available by this year’s end, the board said.
