Applications for Arizona Small Business Rent and Mortgage Relief are no longer being accepted due to the high volume of applications.

The Governor’s office and the Local First Arizona Foundation collaborated to launch this grant that helped small business owners who had to halt business operations due to COVID-19, according to a press release from the City of Casa Grande. Businesses qualified for this grant included gyms, fitness centers, studios, bars, water parks and others named in the Executive Order: 2020-43.

The grant provided up to two months of rent or mortgage payments that were due and directly affected by Executive Order: 2020-43, with a maximum award of $25,000. The grants were prioritized for businesses that are in most need of help to meet their rent or mortgage payments but didn’t have other options for financial support.

Due to the overwhelming response, there was not enough funding to help everyone in need, according to the press release. 

In order to qualify, the business must have been operating in the state of Arizona before January 1, 2020, and be one of the qualifying businesses under Executive Order 2020-43. These businesses must have been actively renting, leasing, or owning a physical location outside of their home and have less than 50 employees.