PHOENIX – On Thursday, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey provided a COVID-19 press briefing with officials with the Arizona Dept. of Emergency and Military Affairs and the Dept. of Health Services.
“I urge everyone to stay the course, stay physically distanced, stay smart and healthy, and continue to mask up,” Ducey said during the briefing.
Despite the slowing of the transmission of the virus, the governor is determined to keep the state virtually closed. That position has earned the criticism by Rep. Andy Biggs and others, who believe the governor’s policies are arbitrary.
.@MesaGolfland has bent over backwards to keep their customers safe, at great expense to their company.
Arizona’s continued edict to shut Sunsplash’s doors, while allowing other competitors to remain open, is tyrannical and unscientific. pic.twitter.com/0OprZzURyH
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) August 20, 2020
On Thursday afternoon, bar owners and employees converged on the Capitol to demand that Ducey lift the “arbitrary” orders that has forced them to close.
Bartenders organized a rally today. A huge turnout! pic.twitter.com/40IzEStx78
— Ilan Wurman (@ilan_wurman) August 20, 2020
I almost can’t believe it. Dozens of my clients got rejection letters today from @AZDHS. They can’t open up. And yet this photo was taken at a series 12 “restaurant” just last week. This is so unreal…. pic.twitter.com/CZxzMX1Xgc
— Ilan Wurman (@ilan_wurman) August 20, 2020
To offset the damages inflicted on small business, the Governor’s Office is partnering with Local First Arizona Foundation to offer the Arizona Small Business Rent and Mortgage Relief Grant program and distribute $10 million in grants to small businesses who have had to shutter their doors during this pandemic.
The Arizona Rent and Mortgage Relief Grant program began accepting applications on Aug. 20, 2020.
Grants will provide up to two months of rent or mortgage payments due by small businesses headquartered in Arizona and which were directly impacted by Executive Order 2020-43, including gyms, fitness centers, bars and nightclubs, indoor movie theatres, water parks, and tubing operators. The maximum award will be $25,000. Grants will be prioritized for businesses that are most in need of the funding to meet their rent or mortgage obligations and do not have access to other financial support.
Business eligibility:
Must be doing business in Arizona prior to January 1, 2020.
Must be directly impacted by Executive Order 2020-43 as outlined above.
Applicant business must be renting or leasing a physical location outside the owner’s personal residence.
Employing less than 50 employees (based on W-2s, a full-time employee is equal to 1.0 employee and part-time employee is 0.5 employee).
Each business owner may only apply for one grant i.e., individuals with multiple locations may not apply for rent at each location.
Businesses can start prepping the following:
Gathering rent or mortgage statements for June, July, August, September or October (subtract utilities if included).
Provide information regarding other sources of income for the owner. Preference will be given to businesses which are the primary/sole source of income to the owners.
Provide an attestation of cash on hand
Provide an attestation that the business is in good standing with the Arizona Department of Revenue.
I’m holding a briefing with @AZDHS Director @DrCaraChrist and Arizona DEMA Director Major General Michael T. McGuire to share #COVID19 updates following a visit with the @AZNationalGuard and State Emergency Operations Center. WATCH: https://t.co/J4Cj7voZPQ
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) August 20, 2020