This grant program gives you $1,000 for each full-time equivalent (FTE) employee you have, every year. The grant reduces the amount you owe on your Economic Development loan. Full-time, part-time, seasonal, and temporary jobs all count toward your FTE total. If your FTE number goes up or down, the program updates your baseline so the help you get matches your current staff.
- Who can apply: For-profit businesses with fewer than 16 employees.
- What counts: All jobs (full-time, part-time, seasonal, temporary) converted to FTEs, based on state Wage & Tax Reports.
- How much: $1,000 per FTE, recalculated each year and used to lower your Economic Development loan principal.
- Maximum per year is 6 FTE.
- Which loans: Only Economic Development loans qualify.
Eligibility
To qualify, your business must:
- Be for-profit and have fewer than 16 FTE (equivalent) employees when applying.
- Have a current Economic Development loan.
- Use Wage & Tax Reports to show your FTE count, based on state rules.
- Follow all state labor, wage, and tax laws.
Program Goals
The program helps small businesses by adjusting to real staffing needs. If your number of FTEs changes, the program updates the baseline so you still get support that matches your situation. The goal is to make it easier for you to hire, keep, or adjust staff as needed.
- Encourages hiring and keeping all types of employees.
- Makes loan payments easier, whatever happens with your staffing.
- Updates support every year to match your current needs.
- Supports business growth and change.
How the Grant Works
You get $1,000 for each FTE each year, lowering your loan principal. Here’s how it works if your staff changes:
How FTE is Calculated
Each year, your FTE is counted from Wage & Tax Reports. If your FTE goes up, you get a grant for the extra FTEs over your last year’s baseline. If your FTE goes down, the baseline drops to the new number. Next time your FTE increases, your grant is based on the new, lower baseline. This keeps the support fair and flexible.
Example:
- Year 1: 4.0 FTEs
- Year 2: 6.0 FTEs — grant for 2.0 more FTEs
- Year 3: 3.5 FTEs — baseline drops to 3.5 FTEs
- Year 4: 5.0 FTEs — grant for 1.5 more FTEs above new baseline
The program checks every year, so your support always matches your staff size.
Staying Eligible
Keep sending in Wage & Tax Reports each year. As your FTE changes, the program updates your baseline and grant. This makes sure you always get the right amount of help.
How to Apply and Keep Getting the Grant
Step 1: Apply with your Wage & Tax Reports to show your FTE count.
Step 2: The program checks your numbers and sets your baseline.
Step 3: Every year, new Wage & Tax Reports set your baseline and grant amount, which goes to your loan principal. Beginning date is the day the loan was funded.
This program gives steady, flexible support to small businesses, no matter how your staffing changes. By adjusting every year, it makes sure you always have the help you need.
Summary
This grant program provides flexible financial support to small for-profit businesses with fewer than 16 employees, helping them manage staffing changes by adjusting aid annually based on their full-time equivalent (FTE) employee count.
• Flexible grant amount based on FTEs: Businesses receive $1,000 per FTE annually, which reduces their Economic Development loan principal and adjusts with staffing changes. [1] [2]
• Eligibility requirements: Applicants must be for-profit with fewer than 15 employees, have a current Economic Development loan, and report FTEs using Wage & Tax Reports in compliance with state laws. [3] [4]
• Annual recalculation and baseline adjustment: The program updates the baseline FTE count yearly; if FTEs increase, grants cover the difference above the baseline, and if FTEs decrease, the baseline resets to the new lower count. [5] [6]
• Application and ongoing compliance: Businesses apply using Wage & Tax Reports, set a baseline, and must submit reports annually to maintain eligibility and receive updated grants that correspond to current staffing. [7] [8]
