MEBA Rent Abatement

Are you a minority or woman owned business in need of rent assistance?

The Minority/Women Entrepreneur Business Assistance (MEBA) Program is a small business assistance program that was established to retain existing minority-owned businesses located within the Target Area(PDF, 761KB) , and to attract new minority-owned businesses to this area. The MEBA Program Target Area is generally described as the Parramore area of downtown, more specifically described as the area bounded on the north by West Colonial Drive, on the west by South Westmoreland Drive, on the south by West Gore Street, and on the east by Interstate-4.

The Rent Abatement Program can provide qualified new and existing businesses (retail and services) within the Target Area with up to $6,000 in rent assistance for a limited period, from July 7, 2020 to February 1, 2021. Application submissions close on February 1, 2021 at 5 pm EST. 

How it works

Each eligible applicant may receive a rent subsidy of up to $2,000 per month for a period up to six (6) months, not to exceed total funding of $6,000 per applicant. For purposes of this Policy Update, rent subsidy is defined to include only the base rent and Common Area Maintenance (CAM). Funds will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis and application does not guarantee funding.

 

 

 

Online

Step 1.Check your eligibility 

To qualify for the program, you must:

  • Be a retail or consumer service business as defined in the MEBA program guidelines
  • Be an existing business that has operated in the Area for at least one year as of March 17, 2020
  • Be current on all rent payments as of May 31, 2020
  • Have not received a MEBA grant on or after July 2017

Step 2.Gather your materials

Please have digital copies of the following documents:

  • City of Orlando Business Tax Receipt
  • Form W-9 (Rev. October 2018) from Internal Revenue Service
  • Executed Lease Agreement, with a remaining term of at least one year at the time of application
  • Evidence of rent payments made through May 31, 2020
  • Financial Statements – Including: Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement for a period of one (1) year or three (3) consecutive quarters 

Step 3.Submit your application

Keep in mind: We will be accepting applications beginning on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. Applications will close Monday, February 1, 2021, or when funding is no longer available, whichever is sooner.

Submit your application

Step 4.We will contact you with our decision

We will email you and ask any additional questions if necessary.

Applicants receiving final approval for funding will be notified following such approval and will be required to sign a funding agreement. Funding will be treated as a deferred loan for a one-year period. The loan will be forgiven in its entirety at the end of the one-year period provided that the grantee is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the MEBA agreement. Funding received as part of this Policy Update will not count against an applicant’s eligibility for future MEBA grants.

Contact Us

Email

Michael.Whiteman@downtownorlando.com