​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Broward County's Small Business Micro-Grant Pilot ​​​Program

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​​Program Overv​iew​​​

The Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD) administers a Small Business Micro-Grant Pilot Program to provide working capital for small businesses located within Broward County. The pilot program is intended to assist the smallest of Broward businesses that need financial assistance. The application process is online and qualified applications will be reviewed by OESBD. Qualifying applicants​ can apply for $2,500 in reimbursable expenses for their small business for eligible expenses paid within 120 days prior to their application date.​

Eligibility Requirements​

• Business is currently eligible (meaning they are NOT suspended or debarred) to contract with the federal, state, or local government to receive federal, state, or local grants or loans.​
  

• Registered with a Broward Cou​​nty Business License Tax Receipt (2024 or 2025)
  

• Registered with a City Business License Tax Receipt (2024 or 2025)
  

• ​Have been in operations on or before October 1, 2023 
  

• Registered with State of Florida Division of Corporations

• ​Business Tax Filings must be current (2023 or 2024)​
  

• Business Gross Annual Revenue of $1,000,000 or less

• Business Employs 20 full-time people or less

• The applicant(s) must be a majority owner or combined majority owners of the business (50% or more)

• Must be a for-profit business
  

• Must not be part of a national chain

• Grant eligibility will be based on the address of the business as reported in the application; the home address of a business owner will not be considered unless the business is operating as a home-based business (home-based businesses must submit copy of IRS Form 8829)

• ​One application per business, regardless of total eligible expenses. 
  

​​​​Eligi​ble Expenses

• Purchase of Inventory and Supplies (excludes alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, tobacco, etc.)

• Business Equipment 

• Payment of rent or mortgage of the ​commercial space (home-based businesses must submit copy of IRS Form 8829) 

• Publicity, Marketing, and Advertising (signs, pamphlets, wall plaques, cornerstones, dedications, notices, flyers, brochures, news releases, media, packages, promotions, and/or stationery)

• Commercial Security Systems

• Commercial Liability Insurance

• Professional Services (services must be directly provided to the business, i.e. Legal Services in connection with operation of the business).

•Eligible expenses as identified above that were paid for with a credit card under the business name (All receipts MUST be under the

business name)​​

These types of businesses are NOT eligible: any business that received grant funding in 2024 from the Broward County Small Business Micro-Grant Pilot​ Program; any private or commercial golf course, country club, massage parlor, adult entertainment, hot​​ tub facility, suntan facility, racetrack or other facility used for gambling, or any store which the principal business is the sale of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, or other drug for consumption off premises.​​​

​Prohibited Expe​​​nse​​​s​

• Purchase of alcohol or tobacco​
  

• Purchase or lease of work vehicle
  

• Rental deposits for a new business space

• Late payment fees

• Debts

• Payroll/Salaries
  

• Pre-Paid Expenses (such as insurance)

• Taxes
  

• ​Interior/Exterior Renovations​ and all home improvements
  

• Fees owed to Broward County
  

• Utility Bills​​
  

• Art

• Travel
  

• Home Insurance

• Car insurance for personal vehicle
  

• ​All others not listed in the eligible use list​
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