FAQ
Hotel/Motel Accommodation Grant Program
FAQs
For assistance, contact us at CLTCityGrant@fftc.org or 704.973.4519.
General
Application Process
Eligibility
General
Will every business that applies receive a grant?
All businesses that meet the eligibility criteria and correctly submit their applications by the deadline will receive a grant award. Owners may apply for more than one property, but must submit separate applications for each.
When will I be notified I have received a grant?
Notifications will be sent by the second week of November.
Where did the funds for this program come from?
The grants program was created through federal funds and provided to the City of Charlotte through the CARES Act, which Congress passed in March 2020.
How much can I receive in grant dollars?
Hotels will receive a fixed dollar allocation per room in their hotel. This fixed allocation will be determined by the number of hotels applying & their representing total room count. The City’s allocation to this program is $6 million dollars.
Per room allotment = $6,000,000/total number of rooms in applicant pool
Am I responsible for paying the funding back?
No, awards will be grants, not loans. There will be no repayment requirement.
Is the grant taxable to the business and/or its owners?
Businesses selected to receive a grant will be issued a Form 1099-MISC by the City and should consult their accountant or other tax advisor to determine whether the grant is taxable.
Are the funds restricted for specific uses?
Funds cannot be used toward franchise fees. In addition, funds must only be used to support Charlotte properties.
Will I have to document how the funds were utilized?
Yes, you will be required to respond to a survey documenting how the funds were utilized. The survey will be sent in December. All funds from this grant must be expended by the end of the year 2020.
How will you certify that the dollars are used in Charlotte?
Grant dollars received from this program may be utilized for any standard operational expense for your hotel other than paying your franchise fees. By completing and signing the application you are certifying that the dollars received will be spent in Charlotte. After receiving the grant, you will be asked to complete a survey disclosing how your grant funding was utilized.
Additionally, because the funding provided by this grant are federal dollars, the City of Charlotte and the Federal Government will be conducting a program audit, and they reserve the right to audit your organization and its utilization of these dollars as part of this process. A misuse of funding will be considered fraud.
Application Process
Where can I find the application?
The application is now closed.
When can I apply?
The application is now closed.
What information is necessary to be filled on the IRS Form W-9?
See the linked sample W-9, with key information highlighted on the form. Please make sure the following information is accurate:
Box 1: Business name should match the application.
Box 2: DBA name (if included) should match the application.
Box 3: Check only one of the seven boxes. If "Limited liability company" on the second row is checked, then the tax classification (C, S or P) must be entered.
Box 5: Address must be entered.
Box 6: City, state and ZIP code must be entered.
Part I: Only enter your EIN. Do not enter your SSN.
Part II: Form must be signed and dated.
Additional information on how to fill out this form is available on the IRS website. You can also watch our video tutorial.
Can I call to see if I received a grant or check on my application status?
No, there will not be a method for you to check the status of your application.
Will I receive confirmation that my application has been accepted?
Yes, you will receive a confirmation email once your application has been successfully submitted. Note: you will have received an email when your account was created, but this is NOT confirmation of submission. Once all sections are 100% complete and you hit submit, you should receive an additional email that states that your application has been submitted.
You can also check your status in your account. Under "My Applications," the status should be "Submitted." If the status is "Pending Submission," your application has NOT yet been submitted.
When will I know if I received a grant and for how much?
If you are awarded a grant, you will receive an email notification by mid November.
Will I receive notice if I did NOT receive a grant?
If you did NOT receive a grant due to not meeting the criteria, you will receive a notification email by mid November.
How and when will I receive the grant dollars?
Checks will be mailed from the City of Charlotte two days after you are notified that you received a grant.
Do you need the Occupancy Tax Form for the month of April or the one submitted in April?
Please provide Occupancy Tax forms, or digital confirmation of filing, that are reporting revenues earned during the months of April – August 2019 and April – August 2020.
On the form W-9, does a DBA have to match a specific public record or is entering a DBA optional?
Including a DBA is optional.
On the form W-9, does the address have to be the address of the property or can it be a headquarters?
The address on the W-9 can be either address.
What happens if my information is incomplete or inaccurate?
Double-check all information before submitting. Incomplete applications, or those with incomplete data (e.g., wrong EIN) may be denied.
Eligibility
For full requirements, visit fftc.org/CLTHotelGrant.
I own a Bed and Breakfast. Are they included in the program?
Yes, if you paid the occupancy tax to Mecklenburg County during the designated months in 2019 and 2020.
Are Airbnbs included?
No. The program is only for hotels, motels and B&Bs.
Our Hotel did not open its doors until after April 2019. Can we still apply?
No, you must have been paying the occupancy tax to Mecklenburg County starting no later than April 1, 2019.
I received a grant from the City’s Small Business Recovery Grant Program. Can I still apply?
Yes. If you received a grant through the City’s Small Business Recovery Grant Program, the amount of that grant will be deducted from the total dollars awarded through this program.
I received a Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program loan and/or a North Carolina Golden Leaf grant. Is my location eligible to apply?
Yes. Businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program loans, Golden Leaf Grants, funding from the City’s Microgrants program or other government funding are welcome to apply for the grant opportunity.
Am I eligible to apply if my location is in Mecklenburg County, but not within the Charlotte City limits?
No, only establishments located within Charlotte city limits are eligible.
I own multiple hotels. Can I apply for more than one business?
Yes. You can apply for all properties within the Charlotte city limits. You will need to set up separate applications for each property. Note: you will need to use a different email address for each application.
My hotel is based outside of Charlotte, but I am a resident of Charlotte. Am I eligible to apply?
Only properties located within Charlotte city limits are eligible.