Over the past week (Sept. 19-25, 2020), Virginia announced updates to two COVID-19 relief programs that could benefit your business and your clients.

Rent & Mortgage Relief Program Option for Landlords and Housing Providers

Virginia Housing (formerly the Virginia Housing Development Authority) is now administering relief for renters experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Virginia REALTORS^® Government Relations team and Chief Economist played a significant role, having worked diligently with the Governor’s administration these past months to ease the impacts of the COVID Crisis on housing providers and their tenants.

Through the Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP), eligible landlords can now apply on behalf of their tenants to receive financial assistance for past-due rental payments dating back to April 1, 2020. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov. 15, 2020.

For more information and to get started with the application process, visit VirginiaHousing.com/RMRP.

Rebuild VA Grants Available to More Small Businesses

Rebuild VA, which launched in July to provide grants for small businesses and nonprofits, is expanding eligibility to help more Virginians. Small supply chain partners of businesses forced to close under Executive Order 53 or 55, as well as businesses that already received CARES Act funding, are now eligible to receive a $10,000 Rebuild VA grant.

Businesses that received CARES Act funding must certify that they will only use the Rebuild VA grant for recurring expenses and that the grant will not be used to cover the same expenses as the other CARES Act funds.

More details about the program, including eligibility criteria, may be found at https://www.governor.virginia.gov/rebuildva/.