Section 691.90 Financial Assistance Application Process

Section 691.90  Financial Assistance Application Process

a)         Interested

businesses shall apply to this Program, utilizing an electronic application,

which the applicant will access by visiting the Department's website and

clicking the appropriate hyperlink that will forward the applicant to the

application portal administered by the Qualified Partner of the Department.  If

the Department announces additional funding opportunities requiring an

applicant to use a different application procedure, that information will be

made available on its website.

b)         Applicants

selected for an award shall be required to sign a certification agreement that

attests to their eligibility for the Program and compliance with programmatic

requirements for funding as described in this Part.

c)         To

assist in determining whether an applicant is eligible and to ensure compliance

with State and federal requirements, Qualified Partners will request the

applicant to submit the following documentation with their application:

1)         Business

Owner/Representative Valid Identification (Driver's License, State ID,

Passport, or Matricular Consular Card);

2)         2019

Federal Income Tax Return;

3)         2020

Federal Income Tax Return;

4)         Completed

W-9 form;

5)         Most

recent bank statement;

6)         One

monthly business bank statement between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020

that reflects business expenses;

7)         Data

Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number or other unique identifier requested

by the Department and;

8)         Any

other information or proof necessary to confirm the existence of the applicant

and its eligibility to participate in the Program.

d)         Completed

application materials must be signed by the applicant's authorized

representative and received by the Department or the entity processing the

application by the announced deadline for the submission of applications

epartment and;

8)         Any

other information or proof necessary to confirm the existence of the applicant

and its eligibility to participate in the Program.

d)         Completed

application materials must be signed by the applicant's authorized

representative and received by the Department or the entity processing the

application by the announced deadline for the submission of applications.

e)         If an

applicant has been marked ineligible or not belonging to a priority grouping,

the Qualified Partner will provide electronic notice of their ineligibility or

priority status.  The notice will contain the reason for ineligibility or the

priority change and a link to a decision appeal form.  The Qualified Partner's

appeals team will review appeals by rereviewing the application, the appeal

form, and any supporting documentation provided by the applicant.  Upon

conclusion of this review, the Appeals team will provide a follow-up email to

the business identifying a decision and supporting evidence for that decision.

The Qualified Partner will review appeals until funds are exhausted.  Providing

program funding is still available, an applicant may request an appeal of the

final decision issued by the Qualified Partner, by submitting electronic

correspondence to the Qualified Partner or the Department requesting the

Department to review the decision. The Department will review all documents

provided to the Qualified Partner and may review other relevant information related

to the appeal. Within 60 days of receipt of the request for appeal, the

Department will conduct an investigation and provide a final determination to

the appealing applicant. The rights outlined in this Part shall apply to

applicants of the Program.