Coronavirus: Applying for Idaho’s small business grant? Here are application details
Gov. Brad Little has announced the full eligibility criteria for the state’s small-business grant program through Idaho Rebounds.
Some businesses can start applying for the grants as soon as next week.
Little revealed the plans to designate $300 million in federal money for Idaho small businesses during a press conference Thursday, where he also announced that the state would enter into the first stage of reopening Idaho amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Little said no other state has devoted such an amount for small businesses.
Grants will have a maximum amount of $10,000, so they can be given out to at least 30,000 small businesses.
Applications will take place in two waves. First, businesses with between one and 19 employees can apply for the grant starting at noon on Monday, May 11, and ending at noon on Friday, May 15. In the second wave, businesses with between one and 50 employees can start filing applications starting at noon on Monday, May 18, until noon on Friday, May 22.
Small businesses will need to create a Taxpayer Access Point account and should do so as soon as possible. Information on how to set up an account is available on the Idaho Rebounds website.
The grants are limited to businesses that have not received Paycheck Protection Program loans or whose loans were less than $10,000, Little said during his press conference Thursday. The paycheck protection program offers businesses loans that do not have to be repaid if they spend at least 75% of it to keep, or rehire, workers who otherwise would be laid off.
Grant applications will be screened by the governor’s coronavirus financial advisory committee. Those awarded grants will be listed on transparent.idaho.gov.
Online shopping using SNAP benefits
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced Tuesday that some online grocery shopping may now be done using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Starting Tuesday, groceries may be purchased online at Amazon.com, and at Walmart locations in Jerome and Caldwell. All Walmart stores will accept online orders starting Thursday.
SNAP recipients can choose in-store pick up or delivery, where available, but those who choose delivery will have to pay any delivery fee out of pocket. SNAP benefits do not cover these costs, according to a news release from IDHW.
Walmart and Amazon are the only stores currently approved to accept SNAP benefits online in Idaho.
Other retailers may apply directly with USDA to participate in this program. If the closest Walmart is in another state, shoppers should check with the store to see if online purchasing is available.
Eagle Saturday Market to open
The opening day of the Eagle Saturday Market will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Heritage Park, 185 E. State St.
The market is taking steps to keep both vendors and customers safe. The market will limit the number of booths and keep each booth at least 6 feet in all directions from neighboring booths.
The market will be fenced off, with one designated entry point and one exit. Traffic will go one-way through the aisles.
Only 50 customers will be allowed inside the fenced area at a time and they will be asked to remain at least 6 feet from each booth. The market asks customers to have a plan for what they want to buy ahead of time. A market map with what vendors will be in attendance will be on the Eagle Saturday Market webpage on Thursday.
Vendors will be required to wear masks and gloves, while customers are encouraged to wear masks.
Questions? Send an email to parks@cityofeagle.org.
New deaths reported in Ada County
On Monday evening, health officials announced new coronavirus cases in Idaho, as well as recent deaths.
New cases were reported in Ada, Canyon, Jerome and Twin Falls counties, among others. Nez Perce County added 14 cases on Monday, bringing its total to 65. As of Monday evening, Idaho’s total cases of coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 respiratory disease, stood at 1,951.
Two new deaths were reported in Ada County, according to Central District Health. The deaths were the 18th and 19th fatalities reported in Ada. CDH’s weekly data dashboard shows that all who died in Ada County were 60 or older.
There were 66 confirmed coronavirus deaths in Idaho as of Monday.
In total, 33 of Idaho’s 44 counties have at least one confirmed case of the coronavirus: Ada 671, Adams 3, Bannock 7, Bingham 4, Blaine 488, Bonner 4, Bonneville 17, Camas 1, Canyon 248, Caribou 1, Cassia 13, Custer 2, Elmore 29, Fremont 2, Gem 11, Gooding 11, Idaho 3, Jefferson 4, Jerome 47, Kootenai 62, Latah 5, Lemhi 1, Lincoln 26, Madison 7, Minidoka 8, Nez Perce 65, Owyhee 8, Payette 14, Power 2, Teton 9, Twin Falls 175, Valley 2 and Washington 1.
Community spread has been detected in 17 Idaho counties: Ada, Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Owyhee, Madison, Payette, Teton and Twin Falls.
Computers available at Expo Idaho for court hearings
While parties in Ada County court actions can access electronic court hearings through a smartphone or home computer, help is now available for those without such access.
Ada County has set up computers for public use at Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St. Parties are asked to arrive 20 minutes before the hearing is scheduled to get a computer station.
Those using the computers must be healthy and wear a face mask.
Questions? Contact the trial court administrator’s office at 208-287-7500 weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. or by email at tcahelp@adacounty.id.gov.
Idaho State Parks and Recreation to reopen campsites
Idaho State Parks and Recreation announced it will reopen its campsites on May 30. Initially, the agency extended closures to May 15, but in a news release said it wanted to better align its timeline with Gov. Brad Little’s reopening plan, as well as allow more time to hire seasonal staff and prepare campgrounds. The reopening will also coincide with the expiration of Little’s required 14-day quarantine period for people entering Idaho from other states.
According to the Parks and Rec news release, some coronavirus-related restrictions will remain in place, including changes to some hours of operation and limits on group size. In addition, premium cabins will remain closed, as will campsite showers.
“The Parks Department is stocking up on personal protective equipment to conduct enhanced and more frequent cleaning of restrooms and other shared-use facilities,” the agency said in the news release.
Anyone who booked a campsite between May 15 and May 29 will be given a refund.
Editor’s Note: This story was revised on Wednesday, May 6, to reflect a correction that Gov. Brad Little’s office issued to its previously announced deadline for entities with up to 19 employees to apply for cash grants.
This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 9:43 AM.
