HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Local businesses affected by the construction of the Skyline should mark their calendars; applications for financial relief are set to open at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 27. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The City's Transit Construction Mitigation Fund has been in the works since July 2024 after Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam introduced Bill 40. Honolulu City Council later passed it in January 2024 before Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi signed it into law one month later. Aid soon on its way to Dillingham businesses hit hard by rail construction After months of discussion, city officials cemented the rules, a portal to accept applications and determined a way to disperse the funds. Applicants are eligible to receive grants of up to $10,000 if the construction of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project financially impacted them. Officials said the grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to fund availability. Councilmember Radiant Cordero strongly encourages anyone eligible for the program to take a look and apply once the window opens. "Small businesses are such an important part of our community and economy, and those facing challenges during the construction of the largest public transportation project in our state really need our support right now," Cordero added. “The small businesses that make Kalihi so special have been suffering throughout Rail’s development. I’m glad that after years of talking about throwing them a lifeline, we’re finally actually doing it," said Dos Santos-Tam. Eligible businesses must meet the following requirements: Have fewer than 15 employees Generate less than $750,000 in annual revenue Located within one block of active rail construction on Dillingham Boulevard Currently open for business Majority owned by City residents Open for business at their current physical location before Jan. 1, 2022 Meet the business 10% revenue decline requirement The Transit Construction Mitigation Fund Grant Online Portal will accept applications until 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 7. Check out more news from around Hawaii More information about grant availability and the application process can be found on the City and County of Honolulu's Office of Economic Revitalization website.