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Applicant’s Toolkit- Raleigh Covid-19 Grant Fund

The following information will provide visual and contextual guidance for providing documenation to apply for the Raleigh Covid-19 Grant Fund.

This toolkit provides guidance on locating and saving the following documents:

• Proof of “Good Standing” with the NC Secretary of State • Proof of paid taxes for Wake County

For a full list of other required documents, please visit: https://carolinasmallbusiness.org/initiatives/raleighcovid19/

Screenshots of the verified information can serve as your “upload” on our online application for the Raleigh Covid-19 Grant Fund. You may also purchase official documentation by contacting both the NC Secretary of State and the Wake County Department of Tax Administration.

If you have any issues related to payments and missing/incorrect information (as listed on the websites which provide this information), please contact these organizations directly to resolve the matter. Unfotunately, Carolina Small Business Development Fund is unable to assist with these discrepancies. We look forward to supporting your small business.

Proof of “Good Standing” with NC Secreatry of State

To get a screenshot of your “good standing” or active status with the NC Secretary of State, please follow the steps below. NOTE: You may also purchase the actual certificate of existence for $12.00. You will need to sign-in/create an account with SOSNC to do this. These instructions are not available in this reference guide.

1. Visit www.sosnc.gov. Click on the “I WANT TO…” section at the top of the page.

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2. Select “Search for a business” in the dropdown area under “Banking & Financial Services”

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3. Type your business name in the “Search for” box. Then his “Search”.

4. There is a chance that multiple results will populate from your search. If so, be sure to look at the list of results and look for your business’s info (such as your name listed as an officer) or other proprietary information. Click on the search result that exactly matches your business.

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5. When you have located your business entity, verify the sections that say “Legal name” and “registered agent”. This helps you to ensure that you are looking at your company’s information. Also, look at the section labeled “Status”.

a. If the status reads “Admin. Dissolved”, it means that the entity is no longer recognized by the Secretary of State and therefore is not in good standing. You will need to resolve this issue with SOSNC before you can complete your online application with us. Please reach out to SOSNC to address this matter.

b. It the status reads “Active”, it means that your business is in “good standing”. You may use this information (as a screenshot) to submit with your application.

Creating a screenshot (PC) 1. With the correct webpage displayed (as referenced above), simultaneously press

CTRL + PrtScr on the keypad for your computer. This will “copy” the image of the screen.

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2. Open the “Paint” software and a. Either “right click” with your mouse/touchpad to select “Paste” or b. Use CTRL + V to paste

3. The webpage you “copied” will be pasted onto the paint canvas. 4. Select “File”, then “Save As”

a. We recommend that you save the file as “Business name- good standing”. b. You can save it as a JPG or PNG file.

5. Save it to a location/ folder that you’d prefer.

Creating a screenshot (Mac) 1. With the correct webpage displayed (as referenced above), simultaneously press

SHIFT+ COMMND+ 3 on the keypad for your computer. 2. This will save the image to your desktop. 3. Locate the image on your desktop. Open it and “Save As”

a. We recommend that you save the file as “Business name- good standing”. b. You can save it as a JPG or PNG file.

4. Save it to a location/ folder that you’d prefer.

Proof of Paid City Taxes To make a screenshot of your proof of paid City taxes, please follow the steps below.

1. Visit www.wakegov.com. 2. Click on “I want to”, then “Search tax bills”

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3. Enter your Last name, First name, & Middle initial into the search fields. Hit “Search”.

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4. A list of results will populate. Look through the list to locate your information. Check the boxes next to the information that belongs to you. Hit “Go To Account Summary”.

a. Please note: As this is a PUBLIC database, you may be able to see information belonging to someone else. Please refrain from purposely viewing information that does not belong to you.

5. Look for section “Account Number/Status” a. You will see information if you have any delinquent/outstanding taxes due

to the City. The information will be in red font. Please follow-up with Wakegov.com for more information and to resolve this matter.

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b. You may see information, which suggests that a payment can be made (optional), but you do not have any delinquent taxes. This status is verified with an “Amount to Pay: $0.00” message. You will not need to pay these types of transactions to apply for our program.

Creating a screenshot (PC) 1. With the correct webpage displayed (as referenced above), simultaneously press

CTRL + PrtScr on the keypad for your computer. This will “copy” the image of the screen.

2. Open the “Paint” software and a. Either “right click” with your mouse/touchpad to select “Paste” or b. Use CTRL + V to paste

3. The webpage you “copied” will be pasted onto the paint canvas. 4. Select “File”, then “Save As”

a. We recommend that you save the file as “Business name- good standing”.

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b. You can save it as a JPG or PNG file. 5. Save it to a location/ folder that you’d prefer.

Creating a screenshot (Mac) 1. With the correct webpage displayed (as referenced above), simultaneously press

SHIFT+ COMMND+ 3 on the keypad for your computer. 2. This will save the image to your desktop. 3. Locate the image on your desktop. Open it and “Save As”

a. We recommend that you save the file as “Business name- good standing”. b. You can save it as a JPG or PNG file.

4. Save it to a location/ folder that you’d prefer.

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