What is the application review process and how can I check my application status?

Each application is assigned a unique identifying number. Wyoming Business Council staff reviews to ensure accuracy, eligibility, and completeness. The Secretary of State’s Office reviews for accuracy and to ensure the entity is in good standing and the Wyoming State Auditor’s Office performs a final check to ensure accuracy for IRS reporting requirements. Monies will be expended on a first come, first served basis. To check your application status, log into your account from the “Access Your Application” button at the top of the wyobizrelief.org homepage. The application tracker at the top of the page will show you where your application is in the queue.

I received dollars from the COVID-19 Business Relief Program (Interruption Fund, Relief Fund, or Mitigation Fund). What can I use those funds for?

Any money received from the Business Relief Program should be used to offset normal revenue that would have been realized were it not for the COVID-19 pandemic or to cover general operating expenses. If you entered any Extraordinary Expenses in your Relief Fund application, you will be required to report how those funds were used and provide information detailing those COVID-19 related expenses. Any funds not used or meeting the criteria of "extraordinary COVID-19 expenses" will have to be paid back with a two percent penalty.

I was approved for Business Relief Program funding, how will I receive my money?

Monies will be disbursed either via electronic funds transfer or by paper check from the Wyoming State Auditor’s Office. Checks will be mailed to the mailing address listed in the application. Businesses/nonprofits set up in the state Vendor Management System will receive an electronic funds transfer; businesses/nonprofits not in the system will receive a check mailed to the mailing address listed in their application. If the applicant applied for the Relief Fund and the Mitigation Fund, they will receive two separate checks, one for each fund allocation. All applicants receiving dollars under the Interruption Fund, Relief Fund, or Mitigation Fund will have their name (or business name) and the amount received listed on the Wyoming State Auditor's transparency website at wyopen.gov

If my application is denied, is there an appeal process?

Yes, applicants must first notify the Wyoming Business Council of their intent to appeal via email at wbc.brp@wyo.gov within three (3) business days of the application denial date.  After three (3) business days the application will no longer be eligible for funding. Denied applications may appeal with a typed summary of the business’ activities, history, industry, etc. plus one or more of the following documentation:

• Tax Return forms filed with the IRS (Schedule C of IRS form 1040, Schedule F of IRS form 1040, any other form necessary to establish a business’ existence) 
• Documentation of EIN from IRS 

I missed the deadline to apply for the Interruption Fund, Relief Fund, or Mitigation Fund, will there be any future opportunities for assistance?

The latest COVID-19 Business Relief Programs - the Relief and Mitigation funds - closed on September 15th and the Business Council is evaluating the creation of additional programs to utilize remaining federal CARES Act dollars allocated to the State of Wyoming. Our goal is to help Wyoming small businesses persevere through economic hardships created by the pandemic. Stay tuned for more details.

What is the audit process? Who will be audited, by whom and how? What information will be needed?

Funds awarded under these programs may be subject to random or targeted audits as provided in statute and program rules. Current rules may be found online at rules.wyo.gov. Knowingly making a false statement to obtain funding under these programs may require total or partial repayment of the funds and is punishable under the law, including under 18 USC 1343 by imprisonment of not more than thirty years and/or a fine of up to $1,000,000 and Wyo. Stat. Ann. 6-3-402 by imprisonment of not more than ten years and/or a fine of up to $10,000. The Wyoming Business Council may use a third party to conduct some or all of these audits and applicants are encouraged to maintain good records of how they calculated their application amounts and how they spent their Relief or Mitigation funds, especially their Extraordinary Expenditure Plan in the Relief Fund.

What information should I keep on file?

All applicants should maintain good records of how they calculated their application amounts and how they spent their Relief or Mitigation funds, especially their Extraordinary Expenditure Plan in the Relief Fund. All applicants may be subject to random or targeted audits per U.S. Treasury guidelines and state legislation.

Will I need to claim the funding that I received on my 2020 tax return?

Yes. All funds received under the Wyoming Business Relief Programs are considered taxable income and must be reported on your next federal tax filing. The State Auditor’s Office will issue the appropriate tax documentation to the mailing address on your application. Applicants are encouraged to work with a qualified accountant to determine how funds awarded under this program affect their tax situation; the Wyoming Business Council cannot advise you on tax or business matters.

RELIEF FUND: How do I need to report my expenditure plan? What if I am required to pay back any funds? How will that be handled and by whom?

Recipients will be required to report on how these requested funds were used by December 1, 2020 and may include submitting receipts/documentation/etc. to show how funds were spent in accordance with the program. Inaccurately reporting future expenditures or failure to comply may result in repayment plus a 2 percent penalty.

MITIGATION FUND: What can the Mitigation funds be used for?

Mitigation funding is intended to reimburse COVID-related expenses that an eligible business actually incurred between March 1, 2020 and the application date. “COVID-related expenses” means actual expenses incurred in Wyoming for the health and safety of Wyoming employees and expenses incurred by Wyoming employers to comply with public health guidelines for the health and safety of Wyoming employees as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and includes cleaning products, sanitizers, personal protection equipment, other safety equipment, expenses related to training and implement necessary and  required protocols to continue operating the business, expenses related to the hiring and paying of employees necessary to implement protocols associated with screening, safety, security, cleaning, and sanitizing business premises.  Examples of eligible expenses include:

• Cleaning products