Tucson Mayor & Council invest an additional $5.5M in Tucson’s recovery: grants for small business and non-profits, assistance for workers & families

Tucson Mayor & Council invest an additional $5.5M in Tucson’s recovery: grants for small business and non-profits, assistance for workers & families

Mayor Romero, Vice Mayor Cunnningham, and Council Member Santa Cruz released the following statement after the Tucson Mayor & Council unanimously approved an additional $5.5M from the City of Tucson’s CARES Act appropriation to provide financial assistance to small businesses, non-profits, and workers and their families through the ​We Are One | Somos Uno Resiliency Fund.

“This is an investment in Tucsonans, who are the heart and soul of our community. The best investment we can make is in our people, which is how our community will move from relief to recovery,” said Mayor Regina Romero. “A commitment and investment in workers and families is an investment in our future. This steadfast approach will help move Tucson into a sustainable recovery and build our resilience as a community. I am grateful for the diligent work of my colleagues and their thoughtful leadership.”

“This appropriation of funds in an example for other cities to take an active roll in restarting their economies. Our plan helps the worker, the small business, and the nonprofit alike,” said Vice Mayor Paul Cunningham.

“Tucson is a tightly bound community, and with the Somos Uno Resiliency Fund we are supporting and protecting workers and families, local businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19,” said Council Member Lane Santa Cruz. “We hear and we see stories from our refugee communities and those that have been left of out of the stimulus funding. As a city, we need to rise to the occasion to ensure that we are looking out for everybody.”

Specifically, Mayor and Council approved:

• $2M for Small Business Continuity Grants
• $3M for assistance to Workers and Families (e.g. rent assistance, gas cards, and food cards)
• $500K for Non-Profit Continuity Grants

The We Are One | Somos Uno Resiliency Fund and the City of Tucson are working in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA). All CFSA, We Are One | Somos Uno, and City funds will be kept and tracked separately.

In addition, Mayor & Council gave further direction to the Business Development Finance Corporation (BDFC), who is administering ​previously allocated City funds at zero percent loans for small local businesses, on recipient eligibility criteria including ensuring businesses owned by women, people of color, veterans and other groups that have had trouble accessing federal PPP loans are able to receive financial support.