The City of Savannah, the United Way of the Coastal Empire and the Savannah Small Business Assistance Corporation (SBAC) are partnering to distribute $5.3 million received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act to Savannah residents and businesses.

“We’re excited about the availability of these funds to help the people in our community who have been struggling financially as a result of COVID-19,” said Mayor Van Johnson. “We appreciate United Way and the SBAC helping us get these funds directly to the people who need them most.”

The $3.3 million City of Savannah CARES Act Fund at United Way intends to help residents of the City of Savannah maintain stable, safe housing. The goal is to pay past-due mortgage, rent or utility balances accrued from March through August 2020 due to loss of income directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are no household income limits or requirements, but individuals must meet the following criteria to qualify to apply:

• Must be a resident of the City of Savannah
• Must be able to provide proof of loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic (from March 1-to Aug. 30)
• Must be able to provide verification of current household income (receiving unemployment benefits, returned to work, new employment, SSI and SSDI, child support and alimony where applicable)
• Must be able to provide verification of past-due rent/mortgage/utilities (copy of the most recent bill, copy of the mortgage statement, copy of the lease or statement from the property management company)
• Must provide identification for member in household applying for assistance (should match name on the lease/rental agreement/mortgage statement/utility bill)

For more information or to talk with a specialist, call 211 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To apply online, go to savannahga.gov/caresact.

Only City of Savannah residents are eligible to receive funding. Any money received does not have to be paid back.

The SBAC will distribute $2 million to help small businesses in the City of Savannah recover losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding will allow the SBAC to continue offering recovery loans and forgive previously issued emergency loans, essentially turning them into grants.

For more information about loan forgiveness or to apply for a recovery loan, businesses can call (912) 232-4700. Interested businesses may apply online beginning Tuesday, Aug. 18, at sbacsav.com. Businesses must be located in the Savannah city limits to be eligible for these funds.