City of Clovis Awarded CARES Act Relief Funds

The City of Clovis was notified Monday of an award of $4,260,000.00 for Small Business Grants in Partnership with Local Governments, and $240,061.00 Covid-19 Emergency Grants to Local Governments from the State of New Mexico.

“The past several months has placed a severe strain on so many parts of our local economy, our business community, retail and service sectors,” advised Clovis Mayor Mike Morris, Monday evening.  “The City’s purpose through the business continuity grant funding program is to assist small businesses in their recovery.  My hope is that these grant funds will provide the assistance our local businesses need.”

The New Mexico Small Business Continuity Grant will be available to qualifying small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.  Grant proceeds must be spent on eligible “business continuity” expenses.  To be eligible, the company must be headquartered in New Mexico and either have been forced to close or severely curtail business operations as a result of closure orders from the state, and have an annual revenue of $2 million or less prior to the impact of COVID-19.   Grant awardees must spend “business continuity” grant money on non-owner employee payroll, rent, scheduled mortgage payments, insurance, utilities, or marketing.  Grant awardees must spend “business redesign’ grant money on things like reconfiguring physical space, installing plexiglass barriers, purchasing web-conferencing or other technology to facilitate work-at-home, or PPE for employees.

Expenses eligible for funding are COVID related and incurred during the period March 1, 2020 to December 30, 2020.

The City of Clovis is working on an application and award process for the Small Business Grants funds in partnership with other agencies including the Small Business Development Center, Clovis Chamber of Commerce, and Eastern Plains Council of Governments.  The City will be ready to commence the application process with these agencies upon receipt of the grant agreement from the State of New Mexico.

For questions or more information regarding the grant award, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 575-763-9653 or email administration@cityofclovis.org.