Monroe CARES

The Monroe Cares program (also known as the COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Program) is funded by the City's federal CARES Act grant dollars and administered by the Monroe Area Community Improvement Corporation.  This program provides for grants of $2,500 (for bricks-and-mortar businesses) and $1,000 (for home occupations) to help the company offset certain expenses directly related to COVID-19. 

UPDATE 12/14/2020: The program now awards grants of $5,000 for bricks-and-mortar businesses as well as grants up to $2,000 for home occupations!

What is Considered a Small Business (Revised 12/14/2020)?

Generally, applicants must:  

  • Be physically operating in the City of Monroe and be licensed to do business in Ohio
  • Have 50 or fewer full time employees 
  • Be in good standing with federal, state, and local jurisdictions 
  • Be owned by a resident of southwest Ohio (if a franchise)

For a complete list of qualifications, please refer to the Application and Program Guidelines. 

Application Process

Due to the nature of the program and the federal funding restrictions, applicants should read the Program Application carefully.  

Questions should be emailed to grants@monroeohio.org; questions and responses will be posted in the FAQ document under the Guidance and Documents heading (to the right).  

Program applications will be accepted starting Monday, November 16th. The application period will close at 5pm on Friday, December 4th.  

Applications will be reviewed promptly; funding decisions are expected to be made during the week of December 7th. 

UPDATE 12/14/2020: In response to the business community and in an effort to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on small businesses as much as possible, the CIC has elected to do a "lightening round" of applications.  Applications may be submitted to grants@monroeohio.org until 11:59pm on Wednesday, December 16th.  

In the event that the Monroe CARES money is not expended during the first round of funding, the Monroe Area CIC may open a second "lightening round" for additional applications.