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GPCOG Business Assistance and Loan Program Application

2. 
4. Additional funds are now available!
6. GPCOG Business Assistance and Loan Program Application
   The Greater Portland Council of Government GPCOG Business Assistance and Loan Programs are designed to provide financial assistance to businesses throughout Cumberland County who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. This includes businesses that have remained open, have furloughed some or all of their employees, and businesses that have closed temporarily. If a business has received CARES Act funding, Federal SBA and/or State (FAME) programs they may still be eligible to apply for these funds, however conditions apply.
8. Each business assistance program has specific rules and requirements based on its funding source. Be sure to read through each program's guidelines before choosing the one that best fits the business needs. This single application will help to determine which programs you are eligible.
10. Additional financial documentation is required. Once this application is submitted, staff will contact you to explain how to submit the remaining documents.
12. Business Owner's Name*
14. Email Address*
15. Phone Number*
17. Full Business Address*
    Note physical address required, P.O. Boxes are not sufficient
19. City or Town*
20. State
21. Zip Code
23. Do you have a preferred language other than English?
27. Please list the Legal Business Name *
    Include DBA (doing business as) if different
29. City*
30. State
31. Zip Code
33. Business Type*

    1. Arts
    2. Business Service
    3. Childcare
    4. Events/ Tourism
    5. Hospitality (lodging)
    6. Fishery related business
    7. Food manufacturing/ production

    1. Other manufacturing/ production
    2. Nonprofit (limited eligibility)
    3. Restaurant/ Cafe/ Bar
    4. Retail
    5. Vehicle Repair
    6. Other

    Please note: payday grant business, liquor and tobacco store, pawn shop, firearm or other weapons dealers, adult entertainment, passive real estate investments are ineligible for federal funds
35. Business Structure

    1. Sole Proprietorship
    2. General Partnership
    3. Limited Partnership
    4. Limited Liability Company (LLC)
    5. Corporation
36. Date business first opened*
40. Current status of business as a result of COVID-19*

    1. Open and operational with full staff
    2. Open and limited operations with limited staff
    3. Open with owner(s) as only staff
    4. Closed with all staff furloughed
    5. Other
42. Briefly, describe the financial impact to the business due to the COVID-19 Crisis*
44. Briefly, what is your business re-opening plan*
    Please include safety precautions, use of creative space, funding, and dates.
48. What town is the business located? *

    1. Cape Elizabeth, Casco, Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Gray, Long Island, North Yarmouth, Raymond, Scarborough, South Portland, Standish, Westbrook, Windham, Yarmouth
    2. Baldwin, Harpswell, Harrison, Naples, New Gloucester, Pownal and Sebago
    3. Yarmouth
    4. South Portland
    5. Other

    Note: Cumberland County CDBG funds are not eligible to be spent in Bridgton, Brunswick, and Portland.
52. Business Owner, What town does the business owner live?*

    1. A. Cape Elizabeth, Casco, Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Gray, Long Island, North Yarmouth, Raymond, Scarborough, South Portland, Standish, Westbrook, Windham, Yarmouth
    2. B. Baldwin, Harpswell, Harrison, Naples, New Gloucester, Pownal and Sebago
    3. C. Other

    Please note if you are in group A towns or Group B towns, or other.
54. If you marked A in the answer above, please indicate your income bracket below. *

    1. < $54,951
    2. $54,952 - $62,801
    3. $62,802 - $70,651
    4. $70,652 - $78,501
    5. $78,502 - $84,801
    6. $84,802 - $91,101
    7. $91,102 - $97,351
    8. $97,351 - $103,651
    9. $103,651 +
    10. I marked B or C.
55. If you marked B in the answer above, please indicate your income bracket below.*

    1. < $43,751
    2. $43,752 - $50,001
    3. $50,002 - $56,251
    4. $56,252 - $62,501
    5. $62,502 - $67,501
    6. $67,502 - $72,501
    7. $72,502 - $77,501
    8. $77,502 - $82,501
    9. $82,502 +
    10. I marked A or C
57. Businesss Owner, What is the total number of persons who live in your household (including you)?*
58. Business Owner, Is this a woman owned business? *

    1. Yes
    2. No

    Does not need to include federal registry.
60. Business Owner, Race and Ethnicity *

    1. White, caucasion
    2. American Indian or Alaska Native
    3. Asian

    1. Black or African American
    2. Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
    3. Hispanic, Latino or of Spanish Origin

    Race and ethnicity categories are defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Please mark all that apply.
64. Which best describes your situation regarding CARES Act Federal Financial Assistance through the SBA, Payroll Protection Program, a local lending institution, and/or COVID-19 Financial Assistance through FAME?

    1. Applied but rejected by State and/or Federal Program.
    2. Applied, but have not heard back on status of application.
    3. My business was deemed not eligible to apply.
    4. Bank would not accept my PPP application

    1. Effort to apply was too challenging.
    2. Did not understand how to apply.
    3. Found out about the program too late.
    4. Other
66. The applying business DID NOT receive any CARES Act Federal Financial Assistance through SBA and/or Maine COVID-19 Financial Assistance through FAME.*
    If true, please add your initials. If not true, put in NA for Not Applicable
67. The applying business DID receive any CARES Act Federal Financial Assistance through SBA and/or Maine COVID-19 Financial Assistance through FAME. *
    Please list all resources received, including name and amount. If not true, put in NA for Not Applicable
71. There are several funding resources available for Greater Portland Council of Government. Which funding are you interested in applying? *

    1. Entrepreneur Assistance Program.
    2. Small Business Assistance for Job Creation/ Retention
    3. Micro Loan Program, GPCOG

    1. Micro Loan Program, South Portland
    2. Micro Loan Program, Yarmouth
    3. Revolving Loan Fund

    See additional information about each program below.
73. Microenterprise Program, Assistance for business owners
    0 to 5 employees (including the owner/s); Businesses address must be located in the BAPA*; Business owner must reside within the BAPA*; Business owners must qualify as low to moderate income (earning 80% of area median income based on their town of residence); Loan terms: Up to **$10,000** per business, no application fee, 0% for 12 months, if compliant with grant terms the loan is forgiven. Funded with federal Community Development Block Grants.
74. Job Program, Assistance for Job Creation/ Retention
    1+ employees (not including the owner); Businesses address must be located in the BAPA*; Business must plan to hire or re-hire low to moderate income employees (earning 80% of area median income based on their town of residence); Employees must reside within the BAPA*; Loan terms: Up to **$20,000** per business, **$5,000** per new/re-hired employee (up to 4), no application fee, 0% for 12 months, if compliant with grant terms the loan is forgiven. Funded with federal Community Development Block Grants.
76. Rapid Response Micro Loan Program - GPCOG
    1+ employees (not including the owner/s); Businesses located in the Greater Portland region preferred; Terms: Up to $10,000 per business, no application fee, 0.5% commitment fee; 0% for 24 months, 6 months deferred, up to 60 months repayment; Up to $5,000 forgivable, conditions apply. Regionally funded.
77. Rapid Response Micro Loan Program - South Portland
    1+ employees (not including the owner/s); Business must be located in South Portland; Terms: Up to $15,000 per business, no application fee, 0.5% commitment fee, 0% for 24 months, 6 months deferred, 18 months repayment; Up to $5,000 forgivable, conditions apply. Locally funded.
78. Rapid Response Micro Loan Program - Yarmouth
    1+ employees (not including the owner/s); Business address must be located in Yarmouth; Terms: Up to $5,000 per business, no application fee, 0.5% commitment fee; 0% for 24 months, 6 months deferred, 18 months repayment; Up to $3,750 forgivable, (in some cases only up to $1250 forgivable) conditions apply. Locally funded.
80. Revolving Loan Fund - GPCOG
    1+ employees (not including the owners); Businesses located in the Greater Portland region preferred; Terms: Up to $250,000 per business; Other restrictions and requirements apply.
82. BAPA - Stands for the Cumberland County Business Assistance Program Area, and are the towns that are eligible to participate in the Community Development Block Grant business program. The BAPA includes all towns within Cumberland County except Portland, Bridgton and Brunswick. Businesses in these towns are still eligible for the Resilience Loan Program and Revolving Loan Fund. For additional resources, they can contact the town offices directly for business assistance.
86. How much money are you requeseting?
    Please note: Entrepreneur Assistance can request up to **$10,000.** Small Business Assistance for Job Creation/ Retention can request up to **$20,000.** These funds are forgivable. The Resilience Loan Program totals vary by location, see limits defined in the previous question. Revolving Loan fund requests can be up to $250,000.
88. How do you intend to use the funds? *

    1. Rent
    2. Utilities
    3. Payroll (excludes owner)
    4. Inventory

    1. Insurance
    2. Operations
    3. Other
92. Please list how many full-time equivalent (FTE) and how many Part Time (PT) employees were employed on January 31, 2020.*
    Please note: FTE is defined as at least 34 hours per week, PT is at least 17 hours per week, 2 PT= 1 FTE, no more than 2PT can equal 1 FTE.
93. Did your FTE employees receive benefits?

    1. No
    2. Yes, Health Insurance
    3. Yes, paid time off
    4. Yes, other

    Choose all that apply.
95. Please list how many full-time equivalent (FTE) and how many Part Time (PT) employees are employed now.*
    Please separate the number of FTE and PT employees
96. How many full-time equivalent (FTE) and how many Part Time (PT) employees do you plan to hire/ rehire (if applicable)? *
    Please separate the number of FTE and PT employees. Please note: If applying for Entrepreneur Assistance program, this may not be applicable.
98. What positions/ job titles are you planning to hire/rehire (if applicable)?
    Please list all. Please note: If applying for Entrepreneur Assistance Program, this may not be applicable.
100. What is your hire/rehiring timeline (if applicable)?
104. Certification*
     To the best of my knowledge, the above information is accurate, and I (we) understand that any false or misleading information I (we)provide may lead to my (our) disqualification form this program. I understand that an electronic signature has the same legal effect and can be enforced in the same way as a written signature. Please type your name above as an electronic signature if you agree.
106. Credit Authorization and Confidentiality of Records*
     I (we) authorize the Greater Portland Council of Government to make whatever credit inquiries it deems necessary to verify the accuracy of the information provided in connection with the review of this application. I (we) hereby request that information provided by me (us) and developed by the Greater Portland Council of Government, or its staff or agents, with respect to this application for financial assistance be designated confidential and not open for public inspection, pursuant to 5 M.R.S.A. Section 13119 et sq. Certain records of the Greater Portland Council of Government are designated CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION. This includes the disclosure of tax or financial information; our assessment of creditworthiness or financial condition; records obtained by the Greater Portland Council of Government in connection with the monitoring or servicing of an existing project; proprietary information; and, information regarding the financial status of the application. I understand that an electronic signature has the same legal effect and can be enforced in the same way as a written signature. Please type your name above as an electronic signature if you agree.
110. Next Steps
     To continue this application, additional financial documentation is required. Staff will contact you to inform you how to submit.
112. Required Financial Documents
     All applicants will need to submit: Tax returns from 2018 and 2019; Profit and Loss from 2018, 2019 and 2020; and Balance Sheets from 2018, 2019, and 2020. If the business was established in 2019, and no tax information is available, a business plan may be required. Additional documents may be required including payroll statements and personal tax return or a personal financial statement.
114. Additional Required Documents: Small Business Assistance for Job Creation/ Retention
     If you are applying for the Small Business Assistance for Job Creation/ Retention, you will also need to submit: Payroll forms from January 31, 2020 and your most recent payroll. Information regarding full time and part time employees may also be required.
116. Additional Required Documents: Entrepreneur Assistance
     If applying for Entrepreneur Assistance Program, you will also need to submit your 2019 personal tax return OR current income statement OR credit report and list of assets. Information regarding the application and/or receipt of federal CARES Act funding is also required.
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