A large number of small businesses are eligible for relief payment due to COVID-19

The Tennessee Department of revenue established the Tennesee business relief program to help biz owners who closed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This program is unique because we proactively reached out to the businesses," says Samantha Singer, Public Information Officer for the Department of Revenue.

According to Singer, emails or letters were sent to small business owners notifying them of eligibility.

Over 30,000 biz owners are eligible, and nearly 60 percent of these businesses have not submitted their certification.

"We're just hoping, hey, did they check their email? Or did they check their mailbox? We are just hoping that they receive this letter," says Singer.

During a conversation I had with salon owner Maurica Edwards, she shares how this pandemic affected her business. "Well of course in the beginning we had to shut down and we had to shut down for i say six weeks to two months," says. Edwards.

I followed up with her today, and she says she received an email from the department of revenue, and she was eligible for payment.

"So basically to be eligible, you have to be in one of those certain industries that we have listed on our website.you have to be registered with the state of Tennessee, pay sales and business tax," says Singer.

Those industries include hairsalons, restaurants, recreational, and many others.

Depending on the business' gross sales, relief payments can range from over $2000 to $30,000.

"This is not a loan; this is money that is being given to you as a result of the coronavirus's financial difficulty," says Singer.

In West TN, there are over 3000 biz owners who need to submit their information. Samantha says that there is no deadline, so small businesses still have time to certify.