The City of South Bend will start accepting applications for grants up to $1,000 for small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions.

The grants will come from the city’s $48,750 allocation of federal CARES Act coronavirus relief funds.

Applications will be available at noon Friday from the city’s website — www.southbend-wa.gov — and are due no later than 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20. Applications will be reviewed by Mayor James Mueller and a review team. Grant checks will be issued and mailed to qualifying applicants Dec. 1.

To be eligible, businesses must be physically located within the city limits and have a 2020 city business license; have no more than 10 employees as of March 1, 2020; proof of negative impacts due to the pandemic, and provide a completed and signed W-9 form with the application.

There are four evaluation tiers, with the highest level reserved for businesses and nonprofits that did not receive any other pandemic financial assistance; are not waiting to receive any previously applied for financial assistance; and are in danger of closing due to COVID-19. Nonprofits qualify for the top tier if they were unable to fulfill their organizational mission and duties.

Within the four tiers, completed applications will be considered in the order they were received.

The city prefers emailed applications to dee.roberts@southbend-wa.gov, but will also accept them via mail to P.O. Box 9, South Bend, WA 98586, or in-person at City Hall, 1102 W. First St.