Events and Support Services Grant (ESSG)

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Events and Support Services Grant (ESSG)

The Events and Support Services Grant (ESSG) focuses on venue-based businesses. Many of these businesses continue to suffer from the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While these businesses face dramatic declines in revenue, they continue to be pillars in both rural and urban communities across North Dakota. This grant will help event centers and those who support such venues survive amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The grant will be offered using the following criteria:

  • Eligible businesses must prove a 50% revenue loss from 2019 to 2020.
  • Amount awarded will be based on 25% of lost revenue, capped at $100,000.
     

Events and Support Services Grant funds will be used to reimburse eligible entities for lost revenue.


Please note, there is NO APPEALS process for the Events and Support Services Grant. Providing all required documentation and appropriate justification for lost revenue will ensure your best chance for success with the grant.  

Application is now closed. 

ALL PREVIOUS APPLICANTS - CLICK HERE FOR PORTAL ACCESS

 

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BUSINESS ELIGIBILITY

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Multiple locations or businesses?

  • One application per location/business
    • The same owner with multiple locations/businesses must submit one application per location. Each location will be capped at $100,000 per application.

To be eligible for the Events and Support Services Grant (ESSG), a business must meet ALL of the following criteria:

  • Business must be established on or prior to March 1, 2019.
  • Business must prove a 50% revenue loss from 2019 to 2020.
  • Have a permanent physical location in North Dakota (P.O. boxes or mailing addresses are not considered a physical location).
  • Have a minimum of 50% annual revenue generated from the sale of tickets to live performance events, private rental revenue, performance fees, or support for such events.
  • Be a North Dakota-based business registered and in good standing with the North Dakota Secretary of State or applicable tribal government at the time of application. Sole proprietors not operating under a trade name, do not have to be registered with the North Dakota Secretary of State. If a sole proprietor is operating under a trade name, they must be registered with the North Dakota Secretary of State. Please click link for more information https://sos.nd.gov/business/business-services/business-structures/sole-proprietorship

Eligible Events and Support Services Grant (ESSG) Businesses Include:

  • Event venues & festivals (indoor and outdoor)
  • Florists
  • Caterers
  • Photographers
  • Production companies including DJ’s, live performers who are hired for private events
  • Promoters
  • Decorators

Ineligible Events and Support Services Grant (ESSG) Businesses Include:

  • Membership based clubs like fraternal organizations or golf clubs
  • Churches
  • Dance or music studios who derive more than 50% of income from classes or memberships
  • Bars and lounges that do not have separate rentable space
  • Independent vendors

Grant Amount (How much funding can I receive from this grant):

  • Amount awarded will be based on 25% of lost revenue, capped at $100,000.00
  • Example 1:
    • $100,000 revenue in 2019
    • $50,000 revenue in 2020
    • $50,000 of lost revenue multiplied by 25% (50,000 x .25 = $12,500)
    • Award is $12,500
  • Example 2:
    • $1,000,000 revenue in 2019
    • $500,000 revenue in 2020
    • $500,000 revenue loss multiplied by 25% (500,000 x .25 = $125,000
    • Award is capped at $100,000
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ELIGIBLE AND INELIGIBLE EXPENSES

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Amount of lost revenue from 2019 to 2020 for North Dakota based businesses.

Example: One event in Fargo, another in Moorhead, Minnesota. You must provide revenue breakdown showing 50% lost revenue from just the North Dakota event.

  • Replacement of lost revenue for government entities (federal, state, county, city, etc.) is not allowed. 
  • Replacement of lost revenue from states other than North Dakota. 
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ELIGIBLE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE 50% LOSS OF REVENUE:

  • Copy of federal tax return
  • Examples: form 1065, 1120S, 1040 Schedule C, 990T, 1120
  • Profit and loss statement from 2019 and 2020  
  • Documents must be clear, legible, and high-resolution.  
  • *If your business has not filed a 2020 tax return or has filed an extension, you must still provide proof of your 2020 revenue in the form of quarterly tax statements, business bank statements, etc. 

EXAMPLED OF INELIGIBLE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE 50% LOSS IN REVENUE:

  • Handwritten documents

 

IF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED:

Please log into https://ndcom-prod.powerappsportals.us/ and provide missing documentation if your application requires additional information. You must submit the additional documentation within two business days (not including the weekend or holiday). Any unsubstantiated expenses will be automatically denied if missing information is not received within two business days. 

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For questions on the Events and Support Services Grant (ESSG) Program, contact our business help line at comgrantsupport@nd.gov. 

 

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