ADMINISTERED BY COBB TRAVEL & TOURISM

Cobb Travel & Tourism (CT&T) is excited to administer a second round of the American Rescue Plan (ARPA) grant. The intention of this Hospitality & Tourism – Workforce Employee Retention Grant program is to help combat unemployment for four discrete and often overlooked areas of Cobb’s hospitality and tourism industries with their current workforce challenges: arts organizations, live entertainment venues, tourist attractions and craft beverage makers.

Funding will be administered to benefit up to 100 organizations in one installment to each awardee as a maximum grant allocation of $20,000 to be used for workforce recovery, recruitment, and retention. CT&T will require each company to sign a memorandum of agreement prior to receiving funds and to complete a survey series during the grant process.

The following are requirements for all arts organizations, live entertainment venues, tourist attractions, and craft beverage makers to be eligible for grant funding through this second round of the Hospitality & Tourism – Workforce Employee Retention Grant program. Cobb Travel & Tourism will review all applications against the eligibility criteria described below to ensure the completeness and qualification of each application.

• For the purposes of this grant, applicants must have been in business and operating as of February 28, 2021;
• Have at least one W2 paid employee as of February 28, 2021;
• Arts organizations, live performance venues, tourist attractions and craft beverage makers must have their principal place of business and established, ongoing operations within Cobb County to be eligible for the grant;
• Applicants must have a physical location in which they operate and have employees within Cobb County to be eligible for the grant, and must demonstrate how the grant will enable them to be competitive with employment expressly to serve Cobb County;
• Arts organizations, live entertainment venues, and tourist attractions owned by a local or state government shall not be eligible for the Hospitality and Tourism Grant; provided, however, that non-profit organizations or foundations which directly support such local or state government organizations, venues and attractions shall be eligible for the Hospitality and Tourism Grant to benefit the same (for example, the Cobb County Public Library Foundation, Inc. would be eligible to provide support for the Sewell Mill Library & Cultural Arts Center);
• No applications will be accepted after the application deadline has passed (March, 25, 2024);
• Applicants must have all requisite and current licenses and permits necessary to operate legally within Cobb County;
• Applicants must be current on all taxes, if any assessed, and otherwise compliant with all Cobb County codes;
• Must not have received funding from the first round of the Hospitality & Tourism – Workforce Employee Retention Grant.
  

Cobb Travel & Tourism (CT&T) has contracted with SelectCobb to develop a secure application portal for applicants to upload the required financial documentation and share their story, funding needs, and describe how they intend to use the funds. CT&T will review all applications against the eligibility criteria to ensure the completeness and qualification of each application.

The following will be application requirements to ensure accountability of grant monies:

1. Number of Full-time Employees working 30 hours or more each week, as of 02/28/2021
2. The most recent Federal and State(s) Tax Documentation showing operational status as of 02/28/2021 and still operational (i.e. – Federal Form 1065, 1120, 1120-S, applicable K-1’s, 990EZ, 990 and applicable State(s) income tax returns filings)
3. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Quarter 2023 941 Internal Revenue Service forms;
4.  Payroll registers showing the number of employees, number of hours worked, and adequate withholdings
   for the previous thirty days;
5.  Proof of requisite and current Cobb County Business License (or exemption from same) and current Certificate of Existence from the Georgia Secretary of State; and
6.  Provide a copy of Current Certificate of Insurance for worker’s compensation.

*Applications will be accepted beginning February 26, 2024 and will close on March 25, 2024.

Grant awardees will be required to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with Cobb Travel & Tourism to ensure accountability of grant monies. The memorandum will include:

• The total grant program amount to be administered and the funding schedule per award recipient;
• How the grant funds are being disbursed through electronic ACH;
• Accountability measures to verify accuracy of application information; and
• A claw back provision stating that companies that do not meet their commitment will be required to pay the monies back to Cobb County

Grant funds will be paid in one installment to each awardee in the amount of $20,000 and will be dispersed upon application award. To remain compliant, organizations that receive funding must also complete a 60-day use of funds survey and provide all required payroll and expenditure related documentation (with forfeiture of award amounts for failure to comply with any post-award documentation requirements).

The intention of the Hospitality & Tourism – Workforce Employee Retention Grant program is to help combat unemployment to assist in the recruitment, recovery, and retention of employees after the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples of approved projects include (but are not limited to): training or development opportunities, recognition and reward programs, enhancements in technology or equipment, recruitment advertising costs, background checks, testing and onboarding costs, job fairs and networking, transportation assistance, etc. Funds may not be used for payroll related expenses, infrastructure enhancements, or operational costs. Funds must be for one-time expenditures and not reoccurring.