The Back-to-Work Small Business Hiring and Retention Program is designed to assist small, locally owned, or operated businesses hire and retain employees. The program will fund up to $10,000 in expenditures for employee hiring/signing incentives, relocation incentives for employees that are moving to take an open position, and/or employee retention incentives. Please note: there is a cap of $1,000 incentive per employee. Up to 25% of the awarded benefit amount can be utilized for other business expenses such as mortgage/rent, utility costs, etc.
Eligibility requirements include:
- 5-25 Arizona employees
- Owned and operated in the state of Arizona, including franchises with corporate headquarters in other states, but with locally owned franchised establishments
- Incorporated before January 1, 2020
- Must be renting or leasing a physical location; may not be working from home or remotely as an independent contractor
The funds must be used for the following:
- At least 75% must be used for:
- Employee hiring/signing incentives
- Relocation incentives paid to employees who are moving to take an open position with the qualifying business
- Employee retention incentives
- Up to 25% may be used for other business expenditures including mortgage, rent, utility costs, and other operating expenditures
- Up to $1,000 in total incentives per retained or newly hired employee
- Employees that receive an incentive that is funded by this program may not include the business-owner
- Business owners must submit a plan for how they will use the money
The grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis and will undergo a peer review process. Funding must be distributed to new or existing employees within three months of the award.
For additional information, please click on the following link:
https://gn.ecivis.com/GO/gn_redir/T/1pyoeti8hsz3a
