The N.C. Mortgage, Utility and Rent Relief (MURR), administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, can provide up to $20,000 in relief funds per qualifying business location. Business applicants from certain industry sectors that have not been able to operate during the COVID period may apply for up to two of their business locations.
Applicants can apply for up to four months of mortgage interest or rent expenses, and utility expenses. The help offers relief for some of the fixed costs a business cannot easily control on its own. Applicants must certify that they were closed during the period April 1 through July 31, 2020; they expect to be able to operate after the COVID crisis has passed; and they have not been reimbursed by any other federal source for the expenses for which they seek reimbursement through this program.
Applications for this assistance on a first-come, first-served basis. The program will pay the maximum assistance for which a business is eligible, and will make those payments to as many qualifying businesses as possible until program funds are exhausted. If additional funds become available after the first round of funding is committed, the Program may reopen.
The Department of Commerce will begin accepting applications soon, estimated for the week of September 28, 2020. Business leaders can learn about the MURR program by registering for one of the free educational webinars offered by the Department of Commerce over the next two weeks. For the webinar schedule and additional information on the program, visit www.nccommerce.com/murr.
The NC Commerce MURR team is available to assist you. Email your questions or comments to: murr@nccommerce.com.
MURR PROGRAM DETAILS
Eligibility for the MURR Program is limited to the following types of businesses:
- Amusement Parks
- Banquet Halls (with Catering Staff)
- Bars, Taverns, Night Clubs, Cocktail Lounges
- Bingo Parlors
- Bowling Alleys/Centers
- Dance Halls
- Indoor Fitness and Recreation Centers
- Motion Picture/Movie Theaters (except drive-ins)
- Museums
Other Eligibility Requirements
- Businesses must be operating for profit. Nonprofits are not eligible for assistance from this program.
- Each location for which relief is sought must have less than 50 employees.
- The business location must have been closed between April and July 2020 due to COVID-19.
- No relief will be paid for expenses that have been paid with other federal CARES Act funds (such as PPP).
Webinar Registration to Learn More About the MURR Program
The Department of Commerce will host three educational webinars to brief interested parties about the MURR Program. Registration is required to attend - the links below will take you to the registration page for each event: