2021 Targeted EIDL Advance Grant: How It Works & How To Qualify

US small businesses have been a major casualty of the COVID-19 crisis, but the CARES Act that passed in April 2020 brought struggling businesses at least some degree of relief. One of the small business funding programs funded under the CARES umbrella, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), included a forgivable cash advance — essentially a grant — of up to $10,000 from the SBA. However, many businesses received far less than the full $10,000, as the money for this program was quickly depleted.

Businesses waited for the better part of a year for the EIDL program to be renewed. Finally, after many frustrating months, on December 27, 2020, the COVID-19 Targeted EIDL Advance was signed into law as part of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act. However, the rules are a little different this time around. Read on to learn what the Targeted EIDL Advance/Grant is and if you’re qualified.

What Is The Targeted EIDL Advance Grant Program?

SBA EIDL Advance Grants were renewed in the December 27, 2020, coronavirus stimulus package. There have been a few changes to how the 2021 EIDL Grants work that are intended to target businesses with the most need.

The new Targeted EIDL Grants for 2021 can still be as large as $10,000 and still do not need to be repaid. But this time, they are restricted to previous EIDL Grant applicants that received less than the full $10,000. As of this writing, you do not need to apply for this grant; the SBA will reach out to you if you are eligible. Previous EIDL applicants that received a partial EIDL Advance between $1,000 and $9,000 are eligible, as are those that previously applied for an EIDL Grant but didn’t receive one due to a lack of available funding.

Another change with the new program is that now you can deduct grant money spent on normally deductible expenses from your taxes. Additionally, the grant money you receive through EIDL no longer counts against the amount of money you can have forgiven from your PPP loan.

Also, the program is now restricted to businesses located within economically distressed areas, and you need to have suffered at least a 30% loss in income due to COVID during an eight-week period beginning on March 2, 2020, or later. Read more about those restrictions below.

How To Qualify For The Targeted EIDL Advance

You may qualify for the Targeted EIDL Advance in 2021 if:

• You previously applied for an EIDL Grant but didn’t receive the full $10,000. This includes businesses that applied but didn’t receive any EIDL Advance/Grant funds and businesses that only received a partial EIDL Advance/Grant between $1,000 and $9,000.
• Your business is located in a low-income community. Low income is defined as an area with a poverty rate in excess of 20% or an area where the median household income falls below 80% of your state’s median household income. Your community is the census tract you’re located in. If you’re located in a metropolitan area, you can also qualify if your area has a median income of less than 80% of your metro area in general. If you’re an independent contractor, or you don’t have a brick-and-mortar business location, you’ll use your home address to determine your business location.
• You can demonstrate a 30% loss of income due to the COVID pandemic. To qualify, you’ll compare any eight-week period in 2019 to the same eight-week period in 2020, starting March 2, 2020, or later. If you started your business in 2020, you can compare Q1 2020 income with Q2 or Q3 income, but you won’t be eligible if you weren’t in business as of January 31, 2020.

How To Apply For A Targeted EIDL Advance

You can’t currently apply — the SBA will contact you if you qualify.

The SBA will initially reach out to previous EIDL Grant applicants that only received a partial EIDL Advance (between $1,000-$9,000). Next, the SBA will reach out to those that applied for an EIDL Grant in 2020 but didn’t receive one due to a lack of program funding. Communications from the SBA will come from an official government email with an @sba.gov ending.

Even though you don’t have to apply, you will still be asked to submit documentation if the SBA reaches out to you. The SBA email will include instructions to determine your eligibility (including low-income location and reduction in revenue requirements) and information about the documentation you need to submit.

EIDL Advance FAQs

More Funding Resources For COVID Relief

The new EIDL Grant for 2021 is a lot more restrictive in what types of businesses will be accepted. This time around, you will have to prove your business suffered a loss, and you’ll only qualify if your business is in a low-income area. The program is also closed to first-time applicants. However, even if you don’t qualify for the 2021 EIDL Grant, that doesn’t mean you aren’t eligible for any other government-funded small business COVID relief — such as the PPP program, which has also been renewed in 2021. Check out these additional funding resources for small business coronavirus relief options:

• PPP Round 2: Main Differences Between The First & Second Round Of PPP Funding
• 7 Lenders That Are Offering Second Round PPP Loans Online
• 5 Banks That Are Currently Accepting Round 2 PPP Loan Applications
• Don’t Want (Or Were Denied) An EIDL Or PPP Loan? Here Are Your Best Small Business Loan Alternatives