Business Relief Program recipients to be audited, application period for the Agriculture Fund narrows

In a press release the Wyoming Business Council stated that all COVID-19 Business Relief Program recipients should be prepared to be audited. At a Nov. 12, special meeting, the Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors approved contracting with MHP, LLP of Cheyenne to conduct third-party financial audits of recipients to ensure awarded dollars are expended in compliance with state and federal law. Read more about the audit process and documentation requirements here.

The Business Council has also set up a tip form to collect information from anyone concerned about Wyoming businesses and nonprofits that received funds as reported on the State Auditor’s website at www.wyopen.gov. Concerns can be shared anonymously on the tip form.

In the press release, the WBC stated applications for the Endurance Fund have outpaced funds currently available, but the office continues to encourage entities in need to apply so they can be prepared if additional CARES Act money becomes available. We will continue to accept applications for the Endurance Fund until Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. The WBC asks that interested parties understand that Endurance Fund applications are not guaranteed funding at this time and applicants will be placed on waitlists.

The Endurance Fund opened with $24 million allocated in unspent dollars from the Wyoming Legislature’s COVID-19 Business Relief Program. To date, more than 2,250 entities have submitted applications, totaling more than $200 million.

To ensure financial help reaches entities with the fewest resources and the greatest need, the Business Council has prioritized Endurance Fund applicants who have not received previous COVID-19 Business Relief Program funding. The Business Council will review applications in the order they were received within this prioritization and continues to review all applications in order to be ready to pay out more if additional funding becomes available.

AGRICULTURE FUND

Applications close next Wednesday

This week the Business Council began issuing the first payments to Wyoming-based farmers and ranchers who applied for the Agriculture Fund, which has $90 million available. So far, 302 Wyoming producers have applied for $23.1 million and $8 million has been paid out.
Wyoming farmers and ranchers have only a few days left to apply for the Agriculture Fund, which provides funding to help operations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon reserved federal CARES Act dollars especially for the state’s agriculture producers in the Wyoming Business Council’s COVID-19 Business Relief Program. Through the Agriculture Fund, awards up to $250,000 are available to eligible applicants. Funds are dispersed on a first come, first served basis and the fund closes on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. Learn more and apply at wyobizrelief.org/agriculture-fund.