Frequently Asked Questions
Revised: 7/12/2023
WHAT IS THE ORANGE COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS BOOST PROGRAM?
The Orange County Small Business BOOST program provides grants to eligible small businesses, home-based businesses and gig workers that were impacted by COVID-19. The grants do not have to be repaid.
While the pandemic may be over, the negative consequences are still being felt. Small businesses, home-based businesses and gig workers that can demonstrate a 25% decline in revenue during the pandemic may apply. The decline in revenue must exceed the total amount of any federal, state, or local grants received by the applicant.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS BOOST GRANT?
Small businesses, home-based businesses, and gig workers located in Orange County, Florida, (including municipalities) that can demonstrate a 25% decline in revenue or more during the COVID-19 pandemic may apply for the non-repayable awards.
Small Businesses: Defined in Section 3 of the Small Business Act which includes, among other requirements, that the business is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field of operation. Must have at least one employee other than the owner, but may not have more than 500 employees, or if applicable, the size standard in number of employees established by the Administrator of the Small Business Administration for the industry in which the business concern or organization operates.
Home-based Businesses: Home-based businesses operate with no commercial location and may have up to two employees or contract workers, as well as additional remote employees. Mobile businesses that have physical commercial locations are considered small businesses for the purposes of eligibility.
If a mobile business does not have a physical commercial location and instead is operated out of a home residence, then that mobile business’s eligibility classification as either a small business or a home-based business is dependent on the zoning regulations of the government jurisdiction in which it is located.
Gig Workers: Gig workers are independent contractors in short-term work for multiple clients. Gig workers are 1099 filers that received all their income from gig work and were not otherwise employed either part or full-time. They did not receive unemployment compensation during 2020-2023.
WHEN DOES THE APPLICATION PROCESS BEGIN/END?
The application portal (accessible via ocfl.net/BOOST) open on July 18, 2023, and remain open until funds are depleted. However, information about the program and eligibility criteria will be available on the website July 11, 2023
HOW MUCH ARE THE GRANT AWARDS?
- Small businesses may apply for a grant of up to $10,000.
- Home-based businesses may apply for a grant of up to $3,000.
- Gig workers may apply for a grant of up to $1,400.
DO I HAVE TO PAY BACK THE GRANT?
No. Recipients do not have to pay back the grant.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR AN ORANGE COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS BOOST GRANT?
Orange County small businesses, home-based businesses, and gig workers may apply to the program by visiting ocfl.net/BOOST and selecting the appropriate grant application. The application portal opens on July 18, 2023. You will be able to save your application and continue to work on it later until the application portal closes when funds are depleted.
WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED IN ORDER TO APPLY?
Business owners will need the documents listed below to complete their application. Please note that documents cannot be edited once submitted.
- Current W-9 Form
- Active state business registration, license, or other documentation
- Business financials, including 2019, 2020, 2021 Tax Return, or equivalent
- Staffing documentation, including W-3 Summary, IRS Form 1096, IRS Form 941; or sole proprietor statement (for sole proprietors only in English or in Spanish).
- County and if applicable, Municipal business tax receipt
- If the business received Federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding, provide proof such as a confirmation from your lending institution, or a copy of your PPP executed note.
- Small Business applicants must submit a deed or commercial lease agreement for the business "brick-and-mortar" physical location In Orange County, Florida.
- Gig workers must submit all 1099 forms and income tax returns for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Proof of residency will be determined based on the addresses shown in the tax returns provided.
Depending on the business’ legal structure, business owners will be required to provide:
- Individual (Sole Proprietors and individual/single-owner LLCs): Shall submit their 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Schedule Cs (Form 104).
- Corporations (C-Corps, S-Corps, corporate Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs)): Shall submit their 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Corporation Income Tax Return (Form 1120/Form 1120-S).
- Partnerships: Shall submit their 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Return of Partnership Income (Form 1065).
AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY IF I RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CARES ACT OR HAD PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) LOANS FORGIVEN?
Yes, but your financial documentation must include this information. Businesses receiving funds through the Orange County Small Business BOOST program may not receive more in grant funding than total revenue loss / negative economic impact after considering any other funding such businesses have already received (including but not limited to, funding already received from the County through the CARES Act, Federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), funding from the State or any Municipalities, etc.). In other words, duplication of funding across multiple funding sources for the same losses is expressly prohibited.
AM I ABLE TO SAVE AND COME BACK TO MY APPLICATION?
Yes. You may save your application and continue working on it.
HOW WILL I KNOW MY APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY SUBMITTED?
After you submit your application, you will see a confirmation screen and will receive a confirmation email with a unique number. We recommend you make a copy of the confirmation screen for your records. If you do not receive your confirmation information, or if you are unable to access the internet, have a language barrier or questions, please email BOOST@ocfl.net or call (407) 836-3111.
WHAT IF I DO NOT RECEIVE OR DELETED MY CONFIRMATION INFORMATION?
Please check your spam and mail folders in your email. If you still cannot locate your confirmation information, please email BOOST@ocfl.net or call (407) 836-3111.
MAY I EDIT MY DOCUMENTS AFTER SUBMISSION?
No. Documents cannot be edited after the application has been submitted.
AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY IF I LIVE IN ANOTHER COUNTY BUT MY BUSINESS IS LOCATED IN ORANGE COUNTY?
Yes. The business, however, must have a physical address in Orange County. Gig workers must be residents of Orange County.
IS THERE A STIPULATION ON HOW THE GRANT FUNDS CAN BE USED?
The program funding can be used for business expenses related to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic such as employee wages, mortgage, rent, vendor invoices, utility bills, payroll, and other costs.
WHAT IS THE APPROVAL PROCESS?
Applications will be evaluated for completeness and eligibility compliance with the stated criteria. Applicants will be notified whether their application has been approved or denied.
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY GRANT AWARD?
Once you receive notification that your application has been approved, you should receive physical checks for the full award within 45 days.
WHAT IF MY APPLICATION IS INCOMPLETE?
Applications will be automatically rejected if documents are missing, falsified, or illegible. Our staff will attempt to help applicants fix their incomplete applications; however, this may cause a delay in processing. Grants are awarded to qualified applicants on a "first come, first served" basis. Applicants should avoid processing delays by completing their applications correctly.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY BUSINESS IS A PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY?
Businesses can visit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s filing and forms web page.
WHERE CAN I FIND MY ACTIVE STATE BUSINESS REGISTRATION?
Business owners can find the most recent filing for their active state business registration from the Florida Division of Corporations by searching the full, legal business name. If your business is not required to register with the Florida Division of Corporations, other documents may include certification from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, certification from the Department of Health, and a business tax receipt from applicable jurisdiction.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY ACCESSING THE APPLICATION PORTAL?
The application portal is best accessed through a Chrome browser.
WHO CAN I CONTACT IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
Residents can email BOOST@ocfl.net or call (407) 836-3111 for more Information regarding the Orange County Small Business BOOST program.
IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL CRITERIA?
As previously stated, applications for the Orange County Small Business BOOST program will be granted to qualifying applicants on a “first-come, first-served” basis until the funds are exhausted. Applications will be automatically rejected if documents are missing, falsified, or illegible.
Additional criteria include:
- Business must be physically located and operated in Orange County, Florida, including municipalities. “Physical location” means a brick-and-mortar establishment at which business is completed. Virtual offices, coworking spaces P.O. boxes or any similar type of non-permanent arrangements do not qualify.
- Businesses must be a for-profit business enterprise, registered with the Florida Division of Corporations, and have an active registration status with the Florida Division of Corporations.
- Business has a valid business tax certificate for Orange County and for any municipality in which the business is located that requires an additional business tax certificate. If the business believes itself to be exempt from such requirement, the business must submit evidence of such exemption (citation to applicable Florida law).
- Business must not be a publicly traded company.
- Business must have been legally incorporated as of January 1, 2020, and must have remained in business operations without engaging in any closure or "wind-down" proceedings through the date of the application's submission.
- Business must be able to provide tax returns for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 to demonstrate a minimum of 25% loss in revenue (or gross sales) and, through a narrative, explain how such loss was a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Such losses may not include any sustained after the April 10, 2023, conclusion of the COVID-19 national emergency.
- Losses related to passive business revenue or income streams (for example, investments) are ineligible and must be excluded from calculation of loss under this program (to include real estate or such businesses in which the individual does not actively participate).
- Business has no current unpaid code enforcement liens or violation of any state, federal, or local laws and is not currently in bankruptcy proceedings.
- No business owners, including managing members, partners, senior level executives, or officers have been convicted of financial crimes within the past three years.
- Businesses receiving funds through the Orange County Small Business BOOST program may not receive more in ARPA grant funding than total revenue loss / negative economic impact after considering any other funding such businesses have already received (including but not limited to, funding already received from the County through the CARES Act, Federal Paycheck Protection Program, funding from the State or any Municipalities, etc.). In other words, duplication of funding across multiple funding sources for the same losses is expressly prohibited.
- If another business that is owned in whole or in part by the same individual that owns the business has already been approved for or received a grant for small businesses or micro-businesses under this program, or if such individual has been approved for or received a grant for gig workers under this program, such business is ineligible for funding. This includes individual owners of franchises or of multiple business enterprises regardless as to whether such businesses have related or unrelated activities or scopes. Additionally, businesses with separate locations may only receive funding for one location.
- Business may not be owned by any individual, or the immediate family members of such individual, who is an employee, elected officer, or appointed officer of Orange County Government or any Orange County Constitutional Office. Such prohibition includes both full-time and part-time employment.
- Home-based businesses must be operating without a commercial location and may have up to two employees or contract workers, as well as additional remote employees.
- Gig workers must be Orange County residents. Residency shall be factually supported through evidence such as a driver's license, tax receipts, residency bills (such as electrical, garbage or water services), home addressed mail, or homestead property.
- Losses related to passive business revenue or income streams (for example, investments) are ineligible and must be excluded from calculation of loss under this program (to include real estate or such businesses in which the individual does not actively participate).
- Small businesses may not have more than 500 employees, or if applicable, the size standard in number of employees established by the Administrator of the Small Business Administration for the industry in which the business concern or organization operates.
- Small business concerns are defined in Section 3 of the Small Business Act which includes, among other requirements, that the business is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field of operation.
- Small businesses, home-based businesses and gig workers may only receive one grant.
- Gig workers must be a 1099 recognized worker at the time of application and during the years 2020-2023. This program is only for individuals who at the time of application and during the years 2020-2023 received all their income from gig (1099) work and were not otherwise employed either part or full-time. “Gig” work is short-term work for multiple clients.
- Gig workers must not have received unemployment compensation at any time during 2020-2023.
- Gig workers must be a resident of Orange County, Florida (including municipalities), at the time of application and during the years 2020-2023. Proof of residency will be determined based on the addresses shown in the tax returns provided.