San Diego County supervisors unanimously agreed on Tuesday to expand the county’s $ 5 million small business loan COVID relief program regionally to small businesses operating in cities.

Supervisors at the end of April initially set up the loan program to help businesses in unincorporated areas that are struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic. The program had $ 5 million to allocate, but almost $ 1 million has been loaned to date.

At the time, only businesses in unincorporated areas with fewer than 50 employees could qualify for loans, which could be as high as $ 50,000 with up to 2% interest. Loans must be repaid within two years.

However, with Tuesday’s action, all eligible small businesses in San Diego County – including those operating in cities – can now apply for the loans.

So far, the program has given 27 companies loans totaling $ 827,000, and four more companies are closing loans totaling $ 125,000, according to county documents.

County supervisors said on Tuesday that the currently unallocated $ 4 million would bring significant relief to many more businesses.

“It makes sense to open it up to other businesses in the area,” said supervisor Dianne Jacob, who co-wrote the proposal with supervisor Jim Desmond. “Businesses are still suffering and could use another lifeline to help them get through this pandemic.”

Businesses operating in unincorporated areas will always be given priority.

Expanding the small business loan program is one of many steps supervisors have taken in recent months to help small businesses during the pandemic.

Earlier this summer, county supervisors implemented a stimulus grant program using a portion of the remaining CARES Act funds from the federal stimulus program. This program gives each of the county’s five supervisors $ 3.4 million to distribute in grants, as well as $ 700,000 each to focus on restaurants.

More than $ 14.5 million in grants have been distributed, helping thousands of businesses.

In early August, the council also unanimously adopted a proposal to streamline the application process and waive permit fees, so places of worship and gymnasiums that cannot operate indoors under public health restrictions can reserve space in county parks.

Many cities in the region have also stepped up their small business loan and grant programs.

At the end of March, the city of San Diego approved a $ 6.1 million relief package that included grants and loans – from $ 10,000 to $ 20,000 – for businesses in the city with `100 workers or less, while the city of San Marcos has set aside $ 3 million for a business sustainability loan program.

In April, the town of Poway created a $ 2 million business loan program for businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees, and the town of Coronado elected to draw $ 2 million from its reserves to support a “Lifeline Business Loan Program.”

The San Diego County Supervisory Board will meet at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.