The town of North Elba COVID-19 Business Emergency Grant Fund was recently awarded $225,000 through the North Elba Local Enhancement and Advancement Fund (LEAF). In April, the LEAF program announced its first round of grants: more than $560,000 to 17 organizations. LEAF is funded by 2% of the county’s 5% occupancy tax.

Grants of between $5,000 and $15,000 are available to small businesses — no more than 25 full-time equivalent employees — that experienced an economic injury and have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Businesses must be physically located in the town of North Elba, which includes parts of the villages of Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, and the annual gross business revenue must be less than $1 million.

Closing of a business temporarily during the pandemic does not affect eligibility; however, the business must be open and operational by the end of 2021. Existing businesses that were purchased and business start-ups that were opened and operational by April 30, 2020 are eligible.

Ineligible applicants include landlords and short-term rental properties.

Funds from the COVID-19 Business Emergency Grant Program can be used for the following:

– working capital for rent, mortgage payments, utilities, payroll and inventory

– furniture, fixtures and equipment

– personal protective equipment and supplies related to the prolonged pandemic and its safety protocols

All projects funded by the grant are expected to be completed by Oct. 29.

Grant money can’t be used for paying off existing debt, refinancing of loans or acquiring a position in a business.

Applications are available online at www.essexcountyida.com. Contact the Essex County IDA at 518-873-9114 for more information.

Completed applications are due by noon Monday, June 7 at the Essex County IDA office in Elizabethtown — one electronic and one hard copy.