SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- Two county Supervisors are anticipating divvying up $30 million in stimulus grants to local small businesses, and they want to be able get the money out fast should it come.
At a news conference Monday, Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Joel Anderson called on the full board of supervisors to approve a framework that would help speed up sending out the money. The supervisors say they want to be ready if the federal government approves a new round of coronavirus stimulus.
"These businesses, our fellow citizens, have waited long enough, and we want to make sure they don't have to wait any longer because of us," Anderson said.
The vote on that framework comes Tuesday.
In 2020, the county divvied up $47.5 million in small business grants to 7,668 businesses, but it received applications from 8,843.
Joe Paraiso, owner of La Mesa's Brew Coffee Spot, said sales are hovering about 40 to 50 percent and employee hours have been cut. He said money from past stimulus is dwindling, making him nervous.
"We've sustained a lot of losses," he said. "We were a really successful business prior to closing and now that we're open we just have outdoor seating and everything is to go."
The county says local businesses with 20 or fewer employees that have been open at least a year and have suffered financially from the pandemic would be eligible. They also need to be in compliance with all state and local health orders.