Business Operating Grants

Applicant Eligibility

To be eligible, the business or non profit must:

• Be based in and have operated in a Middlesex County, Connecticut town for at least 24 months as of March 1, 2024 (this is a business retention and growth initiative for existing Middlesex County businesses. Startups will not be considered.)
• Have no more than 50 employees and under $8 million in gross sales in 2023.
• Be a for-profit United States Corporation, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship, or a non-profit organization [501(c)3 or 501(c)4] and possess good character and reputation.
• Be in good tax standing with the State of Connecticut Department of Revenue Services
• Be compliant with the Connecticut Department of Labor Office of Unemployment Assistance and all applicable state and federal employment laws and regulations, including but not limited to minimum wages, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and child labor.
• Be in good standing with the town where they are located.
• Be up to date on all prior MCRC and state lending programs, if applicable.
• Be in operation, even if working remotely.
• The grant assistance must result in continued or increased employment for one year from the date of grant acceptance.
• MCRC Business Operating Grants can fund a business only once in a calendar year; any future applications to the program from the same business will require additional documentation and review.
• Please note:  even if the business meets these conditions, it will be disqualified if it has any of the following:
  • Active bankruptcies
  • Owners with unpaid child support
  • Outstanding tax liens / judgments

 Ineligible Applicants

• Corporate-owned franchises with two or more locations
• Payday loan businesses
• Adult-oriented businesses
• Passive real estate investments
• Lobbying firms
• Pyramid schemes or multi-level marketing firms
• Speculative business firms such as commodity futures trading

Grant Amount

• The maximum assistance amount will not exceed $25,000.00 per business per grant year.
• The total grant amount per business will be based on the documented need of the business and available resources.
• MCRC will determine if a matching component of the grant will be required.

Feasibility

The business must be able to demonstrate that the operating assistance provided will enable the business to continue to operate and/or to provide continued employment to its employees. The business must present a reasonable likelihood for long-term viability.

Use of Funds

Applicant must demonstrate that the operating funds are necessary and sufficient, when combined with any other sources, to sustain and grow the business, and increase and/or retain jobs. The grants are to provide funds for potential business expansion and growth or support ongoing operations due to a hardship currently being experienced.

The approved use of funds includes equipment and/or technology, leasehold improvements, and other fixed costs, including costs associated with supply chain disruption, increased employee travel time/mileage expenses, increased vendor costs, loss of income, or additional marketing expenses.

Compliance

A formal agreement between the assisted business and MCRC will be required. This agreement will constitute the means by which MCRC monitors and enforces compliance with the grant program requirements.

All applications are to be submitted online.  You will receive a confirmation of receipt.

There are five sections to the application:

1. Business information
2. Use of funds
3. Financial information
4. Job retention and creation projections
5. Certification

All applications must include the following documentation:

• IRS Determination Letter (nonprofit organizations only)
• Letter of Good Standing from the CT Department of Revenue Services
• IRS Form 941 for 2023 Q4
• Federal Tax Returns (see requirements under the Financial Information section) for 2021, 2022, and 2023 (or a CPA-certified P&L statement for 2023).

Please make sure you have these documents as PDF files to upload during the application process.  Please remove all password protection.

Click here to download the 2024 eligibility requirements and application questions.

Click here to download a blank application PDF for reference.

•  Thoughtful, complete, and well-developed picture of your business that shows a path to sustainability and growth.
• Exceptionally clear use of grant funds, with a direct link to sustained business operations, continued employment, and growth potential.
• Financial reporting and projections that reflect the seasonality of the business (if applicable), and where all numbers make sense.
• Clearly articulated return on investment – that the funds will assist with operational sustainability, and the grant will have a meaningful impact on the business.

Applications will be reviewed by a subcommittee of MCRC consisting of Commissioners, members of the Middlesex community, and the MCRC chair.  Applications recommended by the subcommittee will be presented for a vote by the full Commission.

We highly recommend all interested in applying attend an information session before starting the application. Each session includes a discussion on eligibility, funding options, application requirements, and reporting requirements for those who receive a grant.

There will be a total of six (6) live sessions for the 2024 round, and the schedule is listed above. If you are not able to attend a live session, you may watch a recording.

The MCRC Administrator is available to help answer your questions ONLY AFTER you have attended a live or on-demand information session. Please click here to schedule an appointment.  

*Applications will be reviewed by a panel of MCRC Commissioners and experts from the community.  The MCRC Administrator will not be making the decisions on who receives grants. 

Please request your letter from the CT DRS myconneCT online center: myconnectCT

Here is a tutorial on how to request the status letter:  Requesting a Status Letter (of Good Standing)

Click for an example of what your status letter should look like. Please note that if it does not look like this – it is the wrong document.

If you are on an extension with your 2023 taxes, you may submit a certified P&L statement from your accountant.  A printout from Quickbooks or another accounting software will not suffice, however, an accountant-certified profit & loss statement for 2023 will be accepted in lieu of the 2023 tax return.

Applications will be accepted through our online portal until March 31, 2024.  Emailed applications will not be accepted.

Unfortunately, no.

We are not able to review applications, however, the MCRC Administrator* is available to help answer your questions ONLY AFTER you have attended a live or on-demand information session. Please click here to schedule an appointment.  

We also recommend that all applicants begin to prepare their applications and attachments well in advance of the application deadline of March 31, 2024.  Once the applicant completes the application and clicks the “SUBMIT” button, the application is final.

*Applications will be reviewed by a panel of MCRC Commissioners and experts from the community.  The MCRC Administrator will not be making the decisions on who receives grants. 

Applications will be reviewed by a subcommittee of MCRC consisting of Commissioners, members of the Middlesex community, and the MCRC chair.  Applications recommended by the subcommittee will be presented for a vote by the full Commission.

Grant awards will be announced in early May, pending the volume of applications received. Please do not reach out to us before then to check the status of your application as all updates will be emailed to you directly.

If you are eligible and your application is not approved, you will be eligible to apply during the next round of funding in early 2025.

Yes, the Business Operating Grants Program is a five-year grant opportunity. The program will distribute $200,000 each year from 2023 to 2027.  Please join our email list to be notified when the next grant round opens.

Yes, the grant money is considered taxable income, and we advise that you discuss the tax implications for your business with an accountant.

Following the receipt of the grant funding, you are required to provide proof (receipts and other documentation) that you used the funding as you stated in your application. MCRC will check in with you on a quarterly basis for one calendar year following the distribution of funds, and documentation can be uploaded to the grant portal.