Recap of Jan. 17, 2023 City Council Meeting
The Las Cruces City Council has adopted a Resolution establishing the City of Las Cruces Small Business Store Front Repair Program.
The Council’s approval came at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in Council Chambers at City Hall, 700 N. Main St.
The City will use as much as $400,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support the economic recovery of Las Cruces small businesses that have experienced property damage and direct economic disruption because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through the Small Business Storefront Repair Program, small businesses can apply for grants of as much as $2,500 to help repair storefront property damages that occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2021. Storefront Repair funds will help cover costs to repair current property damage or reimburse business owners for costs paid out of pocket for past damages.
Eligible property damages include but are not limited to broken windows, broken doors, graffiti, broken locks, damage to landscaping and etching on windows. This grant will not cover loss of stolen goods or preventive measures such as guards, cameras, or window or door coverings.
Grant applications will open Feb. 1, 2023, and the City’s Economic Development Department will accept applications on a continuous basis until all funding has been expended. Eligibility requirements for the grants include:
- Businesses must have experienced direct economic disruption due to the pandemic.
- Businesses must provide a copy of the police report indicating damages to the business as a result of vandalism.
- Proof must be provided for repairs to broken doors, windows, and locks.
- An active City of Las Cruces business license or a current 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6) or 501(c)(19) registration will be required, and the business must be in good standing with City and State of New Mexico.
- Eligible businesses must be within the city limits and currently open to the public.
- Businesses must have had 40 full-time employees or fewer as of March 15, 2020.
- A business must be locally owned, a non-corporate franchise, or a non-corporate chain business that has been operating in Las Cruces since at least March 15, 2020.
- Eligible businesses must operate from a physical location and/or a mobile truck that serves city residents.
- Only one application can be submitted for a business.
