MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Board of Commissioners allocated $100,000 of county ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money to a new grant program that supports businesses affected by Covid-19.
The Business Disruption Grant is open to private, for-profit businesses throughout the county. Its intent is to help offset income losses and lessen the disruption related to the coronavirus. The Knox County Area Development Foundation will administer the program.
“I have had discussions with many local businesses that they have not fully recovered from the business shutdowns in 2020,” said Jeff Gottke, president of the ADF. “This is particularly pronounced in hospitality and small retail businesses such as lodging, restaurants, event venues, and specialty shops.”
Grants can be up to $10,000 and are awarded based on a demonstrated decline in revenue from 2019-2021. In addition, the business must show it had stable business operations before the pandemic. Businesses do not have to repay grant money.
A 12-member committee made up of local business and finance experts will vet the applications in the order they are received.
“Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis,” Gottke said. “The committee doesn’t feel it can accurately evaluate which businesses have been impacted more based solely off of financial reports and feels first-come, first-served is the most fair way to administer the program.”
Businesses must use the money for working capital and cannot use it for new equipment or building improvements. Working capital includes salaries, materials and supplies, and other day-to-day expenses.
The application deadline is Oct. 15. The application is available for download at www.knoxadf.com.
Return completed applications to the Area Development Foundation, 507 W. High St., Mount Vernon, OH 43050 via mail or a dropbox at the front entrance.
“The committee will meet soon after the 15th and grants will be awarded soon after that,” Gottke said. “I’m hoping to wrap up the program by Nov. 1.”
In April 2020, the commissioners put $100,000 from the county’s general fund into an emergency loan program designed to help small businesses affected by Covid-19. The city of Mount Vernon followed with a $10,000 contribution. Private individuals, philanthropic groups, ADF, the chamber, and other communities also contributed.
Gottke said that all previously allocated business assistance money was issued, and the special provisions created by the state to allow the use of revolving loan fund money for emergency loans have expired.
Knox County will receive slightly over $12.1 million in ARPA money, half this year and half in 2022. In addition to the $100,000 for the Business Disruption Grant, the commissioners have allocated $300,000 to the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium and roughly $2.6 million to water/wastewater infrastucture projects.
