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Weld County Service Industry Relief Fund

Guiding Principles for Business Assistance

The application deadline for this grant has passed. Please check back for updated information.

The Weld County Service Industry Relief Fund seeks to provide financial assistance to eligible public-facing businesses located in Weld County that have been categorized as “high-risk” and mandated to close or substantially reduce services in response to guidelines issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment effective 11/20/20. In response to the most recent needs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative desires to meet the urgent needs of Weld County small businesses directly impacted by COVID-19 in the following industries: Restaurants, bars and other food and beverage service providers; live event venues; movie theaters; gyms and fitness centers; bowling centers, arcades, and other recreation facilities.

The initiative is intended to distribute approximately $2 million in Weld County support to eligible businesses in Weld County. Financial assistance will be provided on a need-based priority basis for all qualified applicants. Depending on the businesses financial need, assistance is available up to a maximum $10,000 for public transactional businesses with a defined closure or limitations due to capacity restrictions.

  • Business must have 3+ employees
  • Show loss of revenue and/or COVID related expenses in the time period of 11/01/2020 -01/31/2021

Grant Application

Businesses that applied for previous federal and/or local Economic Relief Loans and/or Grant Programs may also apply for this program. However, grant funds may not be used for any eligible expense that were previously funded or will be funded by another state or federal grant program, including but not limited to, Weld County Business Recovery Program, rounds 1 and 2. Applicants must acknowledge all other funding received and how that funding is being used.

The Weld County Service Industry Relief Fund will be provided on a reimbursement basis with appropriate documentation (application & supporting documentation).  Applications will be reviewed and approved on a first come, first served basis. Applications will be evaluated based on completion of application, priority analysis, review of financial position and the ability of a business to leverage these funds most effectively through the recovery effort to achieve long term success.

An Application Review Committee will determine eligibility and grant amount. Awards will depend upon the number of applicants, availability of funds, and demonstrated need. Once funding decisions are made, applicants will receive a Grant Award notification which will outline all terms and conditions of receiving the grant. Applications will be reviewed on a rotating basis through 2/28/21; grant recipients will be notified of grant awards on a biweekly basis.  

Eligible Businesses

The Weld County Service Industry Relief Fund will assist eligible small businesses that have been identified as “high-risk” and mandated to close or restrict their operations following guidance from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Priority consideration will be given to:

  • Restaurants, bars and other food and beverage service providers
  • Gyms and fitness centers
  • Live event venues and movie theaters
  • Entertainment including bowling centers, arcades, and recreation facilities
  • Other public facing business may apply for consideration under special circumstances (see below).


Ineligible Businesses Include:

  • Corporately owned national chains, unless you are an individually owned franchise operator

To qualify for grant support, businesses must meet eligibility criteria including but not limited to:

  • Must be physically located in Weld County and NOT a home-based business
  • Business sector must be included in one of the targeted industries listed above
  • Business must be public facing and mandated to close or significantly restrict operations due to COVID-19 guidelines issued on 11/20/20
  • Must be established prior to February 1, 2020
  • Must be registered and in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State
  • Must be a for-profit entity (i.e., partnership, corporation, or LLC)
  • Must have at least 3 employees (including the owner)
  • Must meet one of the following requirements:
    • 50% of the business owned by Weld County resident
    • 50% of the gross receipts originate in Weld
    • 50% of employees are Weld County residents
  • Must be able to demonstrate solvency (positive equity and net income) prior to February 01, 2020
  • Must be able to demonstrate financial stress, disrupted operations, or lost revenues as well as outstanding costs associated directly with impacts of COVID-19. See below partial list of eligible purposes.

Grant Eligible Purposes

Funding may be used for the following purposes if costs have not already been reimbursed from other programs:

  • Unique Costs for maintaining or training the current workforce on COVID-19 procedures
  • Lost Revenue due to COVID, as compared to the previous year
  • Rent/mortgage payment assistance during the period a business was closed
  • Company utilities the period a business was closed
  • Hardware & Software for improved safety of customer transaction process
  • Payroll paid to employees during the business closure
  • Repayment of loans related to COVID-19 business survival (Debt Prior to March 1, 2020 not eligible)
  • Other COVID-19 related costs not already reimbursed by other business assistance grant programs.
  • Funds for websites and applications that accommodate curb-side pickup, delivery, contactless reservations, payments and menus; additional marketing efforts; takeout containers; outdoor tables, chairs, tents, railings and more to accommodate outdoor seating; and disposable menu printing, single-use condiments and other items required to comply with new state restaurant guidelines

Special Circumstances

All applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If you have any eligibility questions, please contact Upstate Colorado.

Weld County Business Recovery Program Awardees

Frequently Asked Questions

  • All applications will be completed online. 
  • Applications will be collected through February 28, 2021 with anticipated disbursement of funds on a biweekly basis beginning on 12/15/20.
  • Awards will depend upon the number of applicants, availability of funds, and demonstrated need.
  • You will be notified via email if you have been approved for the grant.

Our review committee will meet regularly to review applications and once approved, will distribute funds by on a biweekly basis beginning on 12/15/20.

  • Completed Weld County Service Industry application
  • Receipts/invoices/proof of payment for eligible expenditures
  • Profit and loss statements showing 2019 in comparison to 2020 to verify lost revenue
  • List of additional assistance awards by other Government Relief Programs (EX: SBA Disaster Loan, PPP Grant/Loan, EIDL Loan, Weld County Business Recovery Program, Greeley Recovers Grant, etc.)
  • W-9 Form; Taxpayer Identification Number

If you do not have this documentation, your application cannot be submitted or processed. If you need help navigating this process, please direct your questions to Recovery@Upstatecolorado.org. Financial information and documentation should not be submitted outside the secure application on the website.

The data on this website is encrypted, and two-factor authentication is enabled. This site leverages https/ssl and AES 256 encryption to safeguard and protect your data in transit and while stored.

Once you submit your application, you will be taken to a “Confirmation Page”. If you are not taken to a confirmation page, please review your application as there may be errors noted.

Administration and evaluation will remain strictly confidential and employees and fund administrators operate under confidentiality agreements. Your application and its contents are also completely secured and confidential for both you as the applicant and for the evaluating committee.

Review application criteria and if you still have questions, contact Upstate Colorado Economic Development, 970-356-4565. You can also direct questions to Recovery@Upstatecolorado.org