City application process for AZCares funds starts this week

Jun 16, 2020

Maricopa small businesses and others may start applying for AZCares money from City Hall starting Thursday.

The city council worked out the timing and some procedures at its Tuesday meeting. The application process was to last two weeks, which would have ended July 2. But with that being the City’s holiday for Independence Day, the process was extended through July 6 at 6 p.m.

“We want to make sure that all the businesses have the time to not only hear about it but get their application together,” Mayor Christian Price said.

The City received nearly $6 million of the state’s portion of CARES Act funds to help the community recover from the effect of COVID-19 closures.

Two of the application categories are Maricopa Resurgence (for small businesses) and Food and Aid Distribution Assistance (for nonprofits that benefited the community during the closure of nonessential businesses).

The small-business portion was funded $1.35 million. The nonprofit portion was funded $350,000, with the provision that any leftover funds be transferred over to the small-business side. City Manager Rick Horst said the City anticipates the greater need being among the small businesses.

Price, Vice Mayor Nancy Smith and Councilmember Vincent Manfredi all spoke of encounters with business owners who were uncertain if they would last the summer.

After the application process, City staff will look over the applications, and city council will decide allocations by mid-July. Councilmember Rich Vitiello wanted staff to start reviewing applications as soon as possible to hasten the process.

Price said there are lagging indicators that Maricopa was going to be hit hard in the coming months as some businesses do go under, causing a loss of employment, revenue and even residents in a “systematic domino effect.”

Councilmember Marvin Brown wanted it clarified that home-based businesses may apply as well.

The application form will be on the City website, and the City will announce when it becomes available.