More COVID-19 Relief Funding Available to Businesses

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon will allocate remaining federal CARES Act funding to Wyoming businesses and nonprofits organizations to help with COVID-19 related losses and expenses.
The Wyoming Business Council will announce two new funds for the Business Relief Program, the Agriculture Fund and the Endurance Fund. Both funds will open on Nov. 2 and close Nov. 18. 
“The effects of COVID-19 haven’t disappeared from our communities and businesses,” Governor Gordon said. “There are impacts still being felt by business owners, nonprofit organizations, and agriculture producers. Right from the start we worked with the Legislature to pace our programs so that they would reach each sector as the needs became clear. The Business Council will distribute these federal funds where they’re needed to help continue our economic recovery.”
The Agriculture Fund contains $90 million to support Wyoming ranchers and farmers with awards of up to $250,000.
The Endurance Fund will have at least $24 million for businesses and nonprofits  Money available in this fund could increase as unused CARES Act dollars from other programs may be diverted into it. Awards up to $250,000 will be available for all affected Wyoming businesses.

“These two funds serve important purposes as we near the deadline of the current CARES Act funding,” Business Council CEO Josh Dorrell said. “First, because of the seasonality of agriculture production, this $90 million relief fund allows farmers and ranchers to better capture 2020 losses and expenses related to the pandemic. Second, many Wyoming businesses and nonprofits are not out of the woods yet, and this opportunity for another round of funding will help with the losses businesses have continued to endure.”

Eligible entities can apply one time per fund and recipients of previous Business Relief Program awards (Interruption, Relief and Mitigation funds) may apply for the two new funds if they have eligible losses or expenses since their previous application dates.