IDAHO — Governor Brad Little announced the process and full eligibility criteria Monday for small businesses to apply for an Idaho Rebound cash grant. This comes after his announcement last week that $300 million in cash grants will be made available to Idaho small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
With the Idaho Rebound cash grants, amounts up to $10,000 will be directly deposited into the bank accounts of eligible businesses — and more than 30,000 businesses could benefit.
- They are only open to Idaho businesses who’ve received less than $10,000 in the Small Business Administration's (SBA’s) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) (or no loan at all).
- Idaho businesses with less than 19 employees may apply starting at Noon on May 11, and businesses with less than 50 employees may apply starting at Noon on May 18.
All applicants must first establish a secure Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) account if they do not already have one, in order to protect their personal and business information on submitted applications.
All eligibility criteria, information on how to apply along with instructions on how to gain a TAP account are available here.
Recipients of the grants will be shared at Transparent.Idaho.Govwhen information is available.
But what about business owners with criminal histories?
You might remember Paul McNabb from a story we brought you back in 2018 from inside the Boise tattoo parlor he owns. The news story was about a tattooing event McNabb hosted to raise money for a young Treasure Valley boy battling Leukemia.
“When I grew up, I was poor -- didn’t have much. And didn’t have a lot of help. And so, I [don’t ever forget] that, where I came from, and I never will -- so that’s why I want to reach back and help people," said McNabb in 2018.
But this isn’t the only way McNabb has given back; he’s also giving back to the economy by being a taxpaying small business owner.
But like so many others across the country right now, his business is shut down -- which he said is putting him at least $8,000 under.
He said the uncertainty of reopening has been difficult.
"And I was like 'Man, like, what are we gonna do?' And it just seems like, ya know, first it was Easter, then it was the 30th, and now it’s the 16th, and now our mayor extended it to June 1st, so it’s just like -- it’s really frustrating!" said McNabb.
But when applied for the SBA's PPP loan and EIDL loan, he got an icy response. Turns out his criminal history made him ineligible for SBA relief.
“They sent me the paperwork and I filled it all out and one of the questions in there was — are you a felon?" said McNabb. "They said we can’t approve you at all because you clicked that box.”
McNabb was released from prison in 2011 after serving a sentence for robbery — a felony he committed when he was just a teen. He’s now 33.
“I pay taxes just like everybody else does, and when I got in trouble, [it was] when I was 19 years old. 14 years ago. And not that that matters, but it’s just like, why is there no help given for people that have felonies? Like [are] their businesses not worth keeping or protecting?” said McNabb.
“And then I'd heard about Idaho giving more funding, and so I was really hoping that that would be an avenue to help us out," said McNabb.
He’s referring to the Idaho Rebound cash grant, which promises to award up to $10,000 dollars to Idaho small businesses.
Prior to this interview, McNabb reached out to our team here at #TheReboundIdaho to ask if we knew whether he’d be eligible.
I got some answers for him.
“I spoke with the governor’s secretary," I told him. "You will not be disqualified for that grant based on your criminal history."
"Oh that’s good," said McNabb.
"Yes, so you should apply as soon as the window opens," I advised.
Idaho businesses with 19 employees or less may apply starting at noon on May 11 — and ones with 50 employees or less may apply starting at noon on May 18.
“That’s really good," said McNabb.
All applicants must first establish a Taxpayer Access Point — or “TAP” account — if they do not already have one. More eligibility criteria can be accessed at Rebound.Idaho.Gov.
