Los Angeles

Coronavirus: El Monte Giving $10K Grants To Local Businesses

April 27, 2020 / 10:30 AM PDT / KCAL News

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EL MONTE (CBSLA) – The city of El Monte is giving out dozens of grants to local businesses hurt by the coronavirus pandemic.

A pedestrian wearing a facemask, walks past shuttered shopfronts in Los Angeles, California on April 23, 2020. - A record 26 million Americans have not been able to continue with their jobs and the US Labour Department says 4.4 million more people applied for unemployment benefits since the coronavirus lockdown began, bringing the benefits claim to more that 26 million Americans since March 21, equivalent to about 16 percent of the country's workforce. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

Beginning Monday, local businesses can apply for $10,000 one-time grants.

Up to 55 businesses will receive help, the city said. Businesses must have less than 20 employees to qualify. The money can be used for overhead expenses such as covering rent, utilities.

The program was approved by the El Monte City Council and is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development .

Businesses can begin applying at 9 a.m. Monday.

"Businesses are the backbone of our community and we like to make sure they are taken care of in this time of need." Mayor Andre Quintero said in a statement Sunday.

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors established a public-private relief fund for small businesses hurt by the coronavirus outbreak.

El Monte