Government Funding for Air Purifiers

The Importance of Air Purifiers

With vaccines on the rise and the hope of returning to a new kind of normal on the horizon, businesses are navigating new modes of operation. 

Indoor concentrations of viral particles are higher than outdoor concentration levels, which are dispersed even with light wind. This makes the rate of spread for viral particles greater indoors. 

Along with using a layered mitigation strategy, which includes physical distancing, wearing a face mask, hand hygiene, and vaccination, businesses are encouraged to use ventilation mitigation strategies to lower the rate at which viral particles can be ingested. 

The CDC recommends:

• Consulting with experienced heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) specialist to assess, change or upgrade the HVAC system.
• Adjusting your HVAC systems to increase total airflow within an occupied space
• Increasing the introduction of outdoor air
• Using fans to increase the effectiveness (i.e., wind) of open windows)
• Turning off any demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) controls that reduce air supply based on occupancy or temperature during occupied hours. Or setting home HVAC to “on” as opposed to “auto”
• Improve central air filters
• Using portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) fan or filtration systems, which enhance air cleaning (Portable air cleaners that use filters less efficient than HEPA filters also exist and can contribute to room air cleaning. However, they should be clearly labeled as non-HEPA units.)
• Using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) to supplement
• Running your HVAC two hours before the building is occupied
  

Recent reports suggest that SARS-CoV-2 particles, the virus that causes COVID-19, hang in the air. This suggests that the virus can still be spread by open-air transmission due to lingering air particles. 

One way businesses can keep their doors open, and their patrons safe is by keeping their air clean. 

Funding Opportunities for Air Filtration Systems

On March 11, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a stimulant act to improve the economy and help businesses overcome the impact of the health crisis.

In addition to the American Rescue Plan Act, businesses within certain sectors can access funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA).

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) provides $126 billion in direct relief. This bill allocates the most money for education systems (around $168 billion overall). Its purpose is to aid schools’ reopening efforts, address learning loss, and create a healthy learning environment for students and teachers by improving indoor air quality in school buildings.

Through ARP, small businesses can apply for multiple programs, including grants offered through the Small Business Administration (SBA). These include the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for low-income businesses. These funds can be used towards working capital, normal operating expenses. The EIDL Advance (see FAQ here) is also available for low-income businesses. The loan has a 30-year maturity, and the funds can be used towards working capital, normal operating expenses.

ARP directs a portion of funds to the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF), which supports the education sector in accessing improvements towards indoor air quality.  

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed in March 2020. It allocated $13.2 billion to facilitate online learning and assist schools in purchasing PPE (personal protective equipment) for teachers and products to sanitize classrooms.

• Education: $54.3 billion is allocated for emergency relief funds for K-12 schools, including the facility repairs for HVAC and improved air quality. Part of ESSER I is under CARES. 
• Child Care: $10 billion of this program is allocated for child care. 
• Businesses: Businesses can sign up for the Payroll Protection Program to offset costs associated with indoor air purifiers. 
• Health Care: Health care providers fall under the CARES Provider Relief Fund.

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA)

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) was signed in December 2020. It allocates $54.3 as supplemental budgetary relief for reopening in targeted sectors.

Update 5/24/2022: Check out our most recent blog on ESSER Funding for Schools

Under CRRSA is ESSER II:

• Known as the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER II), this relief can be allocated towards: “Inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, replacement, and upgrade projects to improve the indoor air quality in school facilities, including mechanical and non-mechanical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, filtering, air purifiers, and other air cleaning, fans, control systems, and window and door repair replacement.”
• ESSER II is funded by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. You can access program information by state here.  

ESSER II is well documented. Local education agencies (LEAs) can use these funds for anything in section 18003(d) of CARES, including planning for long-term closures, training stuff, purchasing sanitization supplies, purchasing educational technology, summer learning activities, and any other activities needed to maintain operations.

Grants by Department or Jurisdiction

Coronavirus (COVID-19) grant opportunities can be accessed through the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

There are many local programs available as well. For example, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation offers its COVID-19 Indoor Air Quality Assistance program, which can be used to purchase indoor air quality systems, portable systems, and upgrades. You should be able to find local legislation that supports indoor air quality assistance by searching for the “COVID-19 Indoor Air Quality Assistance program” and your state or county.

From the US House Committee on Oversight and Reform, funds are accessible through the State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Funds. You can view the available funds by county. View the NACo analysis here. Uses for this fund include:

1. Responding to or mitigating the public health emergency concerning the COVID-19 emergency or its negative economic impacts
2. Covering costs incurred as a result of the COVID-19 emergency
3. Replacing revenue that was lost, delayed, or decreased as determined based on projections of the government as of January 27, 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 emergency
4. Addressing negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 disease.

Grants by Industry

Music Venues

Grants offered through the Small Business Administration (SBA) include the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) (see FAQ here and Application Checklist here). SVOG can be used to refund customer tickets (even from 2020), reimburse owners, pay down debt, pay taxes, pay towards interest-bearing accounts, or make improvements to the structure and HVAC. See information on how to apply below.

Health Care Providers

One primary aspect of CARES was designed for health care provider relief. See the HHS program to apply for general distribution and reimbursement. 

Restaurants

The Restaurant Revitalization Act provides emergency assistance to restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19. You can apply here or see below.

Education Sector

ARP directs a portion of funds to the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF), supporting the education sector in access improvements towards indoor air quality. ESSER I and II are funded by the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Local education agencies (LEAs) can use these funds for anything in section 18003(d) of CARES, including planning for long-term closures, training stuff, purchasing sanitization supplies, purchasing educational technology, summer learning activities, and any other activities needed to maintain operations. 

• CARES Act: You can access information about ESSER I here (FAQ here); see details on how to apply below.
• CRRSA: ESSER II program information by state here; see details on how to apply below.
  

Other materials for the educational sector can be found on our blog here.

How to Apply

Read how to apply for ESSER I, ESSER II, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, and the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant below:

ESSER I

The CARES Act was enacted in March 2020 and included $30.75 billion for an Education Stabilization Fund (ESF). ESF allocated funds accordingly:

• 9.8% to the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund ($2.95 billion)
• 43.9% to the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund ($13.23 billion)
• 46.3% to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ($13.95 billion)

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund dollars were appropriated to state education agencies (SEAs) based on the previous year’s Title I shares. Ninety percent was allocated to local education agencies that received a Title I allocation in the most recent fiscal year, and the remaining 10% was reserved for state activities. LEA allocations are calculated using the Title I formula; however, relief funds will not be subject to Title I requirements. 

Who is eligible: A set amount of funds is allocated for each state. Therefore, qualified applicants (local educational agencies; LEAs) must go through their state educational agency (SEA). Only LEAs who have received an FY 2019 Title I, Part A subgrant for the school year 2019-2020 are eligible to receive ESSER formula funds (with the exception being new charter schools that did not exist during that time). Please visit this FAQ on how the funds can be used. 

How to apply: LEAs must submit a local application with their SEA. Your district is only allowed so much, so you have to look up that amount first. You then must go through your state’s Board of Education. Through your state’s Board of Education, identify how much your district gets and portals for applying. As part of your application, you’ll have to develop some areas for allowable funds use, such as summer learning, mental health services, and air purifier technology. 

ESSER II

Under the ESSER II, grants are distributed to local education agencies (LEAs) through state education agencies (SEAs), including charter schools with new LEAs. This grant allocates emergency relief funds related to the COVID-19 impacts. 

Related Legislation: Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021

(CRRSA), section 313 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Sections 18001, 18003, 18005 – 18008

FAQ: ESSER II Fact Sheet

ESSER II is available from March 13, 2020, to September 30, 2023.

ESSER II funds can be used in the same way as ESSER I funds (CARES Act) and address learning loss and prepare schools for reopening, including testing, repairing, and upgrading projects to improve air quality in school buildings.

Who is eligible: Eligibility is the same as ESSER I.

How to apply: The application process for ESSER II is much the same as ESSER I. Access your state’s Board of Education website to identify the amount allocated for your LEA and how to apply. 

Restaurant Revitalization Fund

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund, established by ARP, provides emergency assistance to restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19. 

RRF provides funding for restaurants and other eligible businesses. This program offers restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss (up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location). Funds do not have to be repaid as long as they are used no later than March 11, 2023. 

Who is eligible: Eligible entities are those who have experienced revenue losses due to the pandemic and include the following entity types: 

• Restaurants
• Caterers
• Bars, saloons, lounges, taverns
• Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars
• Food stands, food trucks, food carts
• Bakeries, brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms, breweries and/or microbreweries, wineries, and distilleries (onsite sales to the public [OSP] at least 33% of gross receipts)
• Inns (OSP of food and beverage at least 33% of gross receipts)
• Licensed facilities or premises of a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or purchase products
  

See pages 7-9 of the RRF program guide to calculating your award amount. Cross-program eligibility on SBA COVID-19 relief options.

How to apply: You can apply through SBA-recognized Point of Sale (POS) vendors (which include Square, Toast, Clover, NCR Corporation (Aloha), and Oracle) or directly through SBA’s online application portal. If you are working with Square or Toast, you do not need to register beforehand on the application portal. Tax documentation is required, and additional documentation is required for brewpub, tasting room, taproom, brewery, winery, distillery, bakery, and inns.

Shuttered Venue Operator Grant

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG; see FAQ here and Application Checklist here) can be used by theatre and music venues and artists to improve HVAC. 

SVOG was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and then it was amended by ARP. The program allocates over $16 billion in grants for shuttered venues, administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.

Eligible applicants can qualify for a grant amount equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with a maximum of $10 million available for a single award. $2 billion is also reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.

Who is eligible: The following entities are eligible:

• Live venue operators or promoters
• Live performing arts organization operators
• Museum operators
• Theatrical producers
• Talent representatives
• Motion picture theater operators (including owners)

Note that the entity must have been in operation since February 29, 2020. A venue or promoter who received a PPP loan on or after December 27, 2020, will have the SVOG reduced by the PPP loan amount. For eligible entities operating by January 1, 2019, grants of 45% of their 2019 gross earned revenue OR $10 million, whichever is less, will be given. For eligible entities operating after January 1, 2019, grants will be given for the average monthly gross earned revenue for each full month you were in operation during 2019; multiply this by six (6) OR $10 million, whichever is less.

‍How to apply: Applicants were processed under a schedule; we are now under supplemental funding, but businesses can still apply under priorities: 

First priority (first 14 days of grant award period): Those entities that suffered at least a 90% loss in gross revenue between April 2020 and December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Second priority (next 14 days): Entities that suffered a 70% or greater gross revenue loss during the same time period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Third priority (beginning 28 days after first and second priorities): Entities that suffered a 25% or greater earned revenue loss between any quarter in 2019 and the corresponding quarter in 2020.

Supplemental funding (available after all priority periods): Recipients of first, second, and third priority round awards who suffered a 70% or greater revenue loss for the most recent calendar quarter (as of April 1, 2021, or later). 

Improving Indoor Air Quality With Sanalife

Navigating reopening after COVID restrictions is extremely difficult; however, receiving these funds can make all the difference in how your business can operate and succeed as we reopen.

Consult with your community, your local authorities, and state legislation to understand what you can do. Seek government funding to offset the cost of reopening, from paying your workers, reimbursing debt payments, and upgrading HVAC equipment. 

Whether you are ready to upgrade your HVAC equipment or you want to understand what government relief your business is eligible for, reach out to Sanalife Wellness to ask about our indoor air purifier technology. Our sales representations can guide you through this complicated process.