COVID-19 BUSINESS RELIEF PROGRAM
In May 2020, the Wyoming Legislature created three programs to distribute $325 million in federal CARES Act funding to Wyoming businesses and nonprofits that experienced hardship related to the COVID-19 crisis. The Wyoming Business Council is distributing these dollars through the COVID-19 Business Relief Program, which consists of five funds: the Interruption, Relief, Mitigation, Agriculture, and Endurance funds, all of which are now closed.
COVID-19 BUSINESS RELIEF PROGRAM RECAP
INTERRUPTION FUND
June 8 - July 2, 2020
3,978 applicants paid
$98.5 million paid
RELIEF FUND
Aug. 4 - Sept. 15, 2020
2,416 applicants paid
$177.6 million paid
MITIGATION FUND
Aug. 4 - Sept. 15, 2020
687 applicants paid
$25.6 million paid
AGRICULTURE FUND
Nov. 2 - Nov. 18, 2020
514 applicants paid
$35.1 million paid
ENDURANCE FUND
Nov. 2 - Nov. 18, 2020
981 applicants paid
$83 million paid
ENDURANCE FUND UPDATE (12/22/2020)
All CARES Act dollars allocated to the Endurance Fund have been fully expended and dedicated to paying applications from entities that did not previously receive COVID-19 Business Relief Program (BRP) awards. A total of 981 Wyoming businesses and nonprofits were paid $82.8 million from the Fund. Remaining applications in the queue are not able to be funded and applicants have been notified via email.
THRIVE > SURVIVE CAMPAIGN
As 2020 comes to a close, the Wyoming Business Council has launched a new campaign, Thrive > Survive, featuring Wyoming stories where innovation, lots of elbow grease and working together have helped communities and businesses weather the pandemic, sometimes even growing stronger.
BRP AUDIT PROCESS & RETURNING FUNDS
With guidance and oversight from independent auditing firm, McGee Hearne & Paiz, LLP (MHP), a sampling of COVID-19 Business Relief Program recipients are currently being audited. Entities chosen for the audit pool are notified by email with instructions on next steps. MHP and its contracted partners are conducting the audits at the business level and will share results soon.
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If a business or nonprofit would like to proactively return money from any of the Business Relief Program funds, they can log in to their Business Relief Program account to initiate the return. Returning complete funds by Nov. 30 will remove you from the third-party audit list and you will not need to provide any supporting documentation. The final deadline for returning funds was Dec. 18.
RELIEF FUND FUTURE EXTRAORDINARY EXPENDITURES PLAN
IMPORTANT EXPENDITURE PLAN INFORMATION: If you included future extraordinary expenditures in your Relief Fund application, you must report on how those funds were spent by Dec. 15, 2020. Applicants not reporting on their expenditures will be required to repay their expenditure plan amounts.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR CONSULTANTS
Reach out to a regional director with specific questions and for more information.
AMY QUICK
Northwest Regional Director (Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie counties)
307.421.0140
HEATHER TUPPER
Southeast Regional Director (Albany, Carbon, Goshen and Laramie counties)
307.777.2804
ELAINA ZEMPEL
Western Regional Director (Lincoln, Sublette, Uinta and Teton counties)
307.877.2203
BRANDI HARLOW
Northeast Regional Director (Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan and Weston counties)
307.689.1320
KIM RIGHTMER
East Central Regional Director (Converse, Natrona, Niobrara and Platte counties)
307.577.6012
MARCIO PAES-BARRETO
South Central Regional Director (Fremont and Sweetwater counties).
307.630.4679
PARTNERS
Special thanks to these partner agencies who provide valuable assistance and support to Wyoming businesses in the good times and the tough times.
