House passes $62 million COVID-19 economic recovery package to help businesses, culture and tourism

The Utah House on June 18 passed House Bill 5,010, a $62 million COVID-19 economic recovery program sponsored by Representative Spendlove that directs CARES Act funds to a set of time-limited grant programs for businesses, cultural entities, displaced workers and tourism promotion.

"This is about $62,000,000," Representative Spendlove said on the floor, laying out program components: an Impacted Business Grant that pays amounts up to a business'''s decline in revenue from March through June 2020 (with a requirement that recipients return 50% of the grant to consumers as discounts or promotions), a Cultural Assistance Grant for botanical and cultural organizations, a Support Grant for PPE and facility redesign, a Displaced Worker Grant aimed at retraining, an outreach and education program (roughly $1 million) to advertise resources and encourage use of health services, and tourism support.

The sponsor said 75% of the Impacted Business Grant allocation is reserved for small businesses (defined as up to 250 full-time equivalent employees) and that eligibility will be based on demonstrated negative revenue impact. Members pressed for implementation details, including when application forms would be available; the sponsor said the agencies and GOED would have forms ready so the program can open on Aug. 1 and move quickly to distribute funds.

Representative Stratton and others asked whether the March'to'June window would miss businesses with lagging revenue losses; the sponsor and supporters said the period was chosen to get funds out rapidly and that the Impacted Business Grant is intended to be nimble with back-end audit and perjury certification to deter fraud.

The House amended and passed the bill; the vote was 64'to—1. The measure will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.