Apple Growth Partners

Ohio’s COVID Relief Grant Programs

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

On Friday, October 23, 2020, Governor DeWine and the Ohio Development Services Agency announced two new COVID Relief grant programs for Ohio companies:

Small Business Relief Grant

Grant summary

  • $10,000 Grant
  • Accepting applications November 2, 2020

Eligible Businesses

  • For-Profit Entity
  • Employs at least 1 and no more than 25 Ohio Employees
  • Must have Ohio physical location and earn at least 90% of annual revenue based on activities performed in and taxable in Ohio
  • Must be in continuous operation since 1/1/2020 (except for interruptions required by COVID-19 public health orders) and is expected to continue operations as a going concern.
  • The applicant business has experienced revenue loss or unplanned costs caused by COVID-19
  • The applicant business is in good standing with Ohio Secretary of State
  • The applicant has fully utilized other government support (including both grants and loans) due to COVID-19
  • Otherwise, not on the list of ineligible businesses

Eligible Costs

  • Personal protective equipment to protect employees, customers, or clients from COVID-19
  • Measures taken to protect employees, customers, or clients from COVID-19
  • Mortgage or rent payments for business premises
  • Utility payments for business premises
  • Employee wages and amounts paid to contractors, including health care costs
  • Business supplies or equipment

Ineligible Costs

  • Costs for non-Covid related expenses
  • Costs for federal, state and local tax obligations
  • Costs for non-business purposes
  • Costs for political purposes
  • Costs for which the business has been reimbursed from another source (government loan, grant program or insurance proceeds)

Application Process

  • Beginning November 2nd
  • Submit application for the SBRG at businesshelp.ohio.gov
    • Will require a login with existing OH/ID or need to create new OH/ID for secure access to State of Ohio services and programs
  • Funds will be awarded on a first come, first served basis

Bar and Restaurant Assistance Fund

The Bar and Restaurant Assistance Fund has allocated $37.5 million to help those with liquor licenses significantly impacted with COVID-19 and limited in the full use of their liquor permit.  Funding for this program is from the CARES Act. 

Eligible Businesses

Liquor permit holders need not be currently open, but must have an active liquor license.  The permit types allowed included restaurants, breweries, distilleries, wineries, casinos, and private clubs.  The permits include:

A1A1AA1CA2D1D2D2XD3D3AD4
D4AD5D5AD5BD5CD5DD5ED5FD5GD5H
D5ID5JD5KD5LD5MD5ND5OD7 

Application requirements

Licensees must present their FEIN and liquor permit number as well as address for each unique location at the time of application.

Once money is received, businesses are to use the funds on COVID-related expenses due to business interruptions caused by the pandemic.

Application process

Visit BusinessHelp.Ohio.Gov to access the online application process, starting November 2, 2020.

After applying and approval, a licensee will receive $2,500 per unique business location.

Contact our COVID-19 Response Team with any questions on the application process.


Apple Growth Partners’ published material provides general coverage of its subject area and is presented to the reader for educational purposes based on the most current regulatory information available at the time it was written. All communications, whether written or oral should be reaffirmed prior to the submission of any application. All information in this published material and on our website is provided in good faith; however, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, compliance with any law (federal, state or local) or professional standard or completeness of any information. We assume no responsibility to any recipient of this material to correct or update its contents for any reason, including changes in any law or professional standard. It is not intended to be audit, tax, accounting, advisory, consulting or investment advice. The information in this article is also not a substitute for legal advice and may not be suitable in a particular situation. Consult your attorney for legal advice.

Our articles, other published materials and website occasionally contain links to other web pages. Links to organizations and government agencies are provided as a convenience to our readers. The firm does not endorse and is not responsible for any third-party content that may be accessed from its website and does not recommend or endorse the use of any third-party’s services. The links are to be accessed at the user’s own risk, and the authors of this website make no representations or warranties about the content of these links.