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Washington County narrows disaster-relief grant guidance to support Damascus businesses
Summary
The Board of Supervisors endorsed guidance prioritizing Damascus businesses with business licenses for the county’s small-business relief grants, while asking staff to refine eligibility for farmers and permanent closures; the board emphasized limited funds and the need for fair, auditable criteria.
The Washington County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 24 directed staff to prioritize small-business relief grants for businesses in the Damascus ZIP code that hold a business license, while asking for further definition on whether farmers and permanently closed businesses should qualify.
Ms. Sturgill, a member of the county committee that reviewed the first round of grants, said the committee used IRS guidance to shape four core criteria: location in the Damascus ZIP code, property damage from the hurricane, business interruption, and promotion of general welfare. "For tonight's consideration, we need some guidance on the three items that we have listed: short-term versus long-term rentals, farmers, and business closing," she told the board.
Board members repeatedly raised concerns about running out of the fund if eligibility is too broad. One supervisor urged drawing a clear line by using transient-occupancy-tax‑paying short‑term rentals as an initial filter; another suggested that farms would be difficult to verify because drought and non-storm losses complicate assessments.
The board discussed several practical tests for eligibility: requiring a business license as the first criterion, restricting the geographic focus to Damascus to prioritize the community most affected by the storm, and allowing the committee to revisit rules if funds remain for a second round. "If we know a business is closing, do we provide a grant for a business that's closing that won't reopen?" a supervisor asked; committee members noted some applicants who indicated they would not reopen still sustained storm losses.
Supervisors also considered partnering with local organizations for farm-specific aid; one supervisor suggested Wellspring or local farm leaders could help develop criteria for agricultural claims. The county has roughly $580,000 in unallocated disaster funds available, officials said, and earlier rounds disbursed $5,500 per award.
After debate, the board passed a motion to prioritize grant awards to businesses in the Damascus ZIP code that meet the stated criteria and have a business license, while directing staff and the committee to return with recommended, auditable rules for farmers and for businesses that have indicated closure. The motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: staff will refine eligibility language and report back to the board so the committee can continue application reviews under the clarified guidance.
