Response, Recovery, Resiliency: El Paso County Regional Business Relief Fund

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented economic disruption that massively impacted communities across the nation, including the small businesses and nonprofits of El Paso County, Colorado. In response to the devastating effects COVID-19 had on our small businesses and nonprofits, El Paso County, Colorado’s Economic Development Department, in coordination with County leadership and local economic development partners, launched the El Paso County Regional Business Relief Fund. Through the El Paso County Regional Business Relief Fund, El Paso County’s Economic Development Department led the distribution of grant awards totaling $13,858,528 to 864 small businesses and nonprofits throughout the El Paso County community, with 56% of awardees self-identifying as being minority-, women-, and/or veteran-owned small businesses and nonprofits. While this program was created to give small businesses and nonprofits direct and immediate relief to help support operations, sustain their workforce, and recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19, the program also served to showcase how community partnerships and collaboration play a significant role in unifying a community – even in the midst of a pandemic. Small businesses and nonprofits are not only critical to the vitality and economic stability of our nation, but they also make up the heartbeat and character of our communities. We are stronger together!