So, 2020 wasn’t so good for business? Assistance is available
For the third time since the pandemic started, the Village of Peoria is implementing a significant relief program for local businesses.
The Commercial Expense Reimbursement Grant Program, operated with funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Equal Opportunity, will provide maximum grants of up to $10,000 for mortgage, lease and/or utility costs incurred between March 1, 2020 and Dec. 30, 2020.
Applications will be accepted starting April 1, with a deadline of May 28.
Business owners must provide documentation that their revenues declined by at least 25 percent for the covered month(s), as compared to the same time period in 2019.
The lump-sum grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis until the funds are exhausted. Previous grant recipients remain eligible for this program, though earlier awards will count toward the total. There will be about a 10-day turnaround between application approval and check in hand.
Single distributions topped out at $5,000 during the December incarnation of this same program. Ultimately, 36 Heights businesses took advantage, with total disbursements coming to $155,000.
Prior to that, the Village had conducted its own relief effort, using locally generated dollars from the community’s two Business Development Districts.
The individual relief then was capped at $1,500, with 82 Heights businesses collecting more than $110,000 in total. Village Hall also discounted water bills in the past year to help residents contend with the coronavirus crisis.
“Don’t be shy,” said Peoria Heights Mayor Michael Phelan. “A year ago at this time, none of us could have anticipated the challenges that were in store. We’re here to help, and we encourage our business owners to participate. Our health as a village government, and the extent of the services we can provide to our residents, are directly connected to the well-being of our businesses’ bottom lines.”
Applications are available on the Village’s website and at Village Hall at 4901 N. Prospect Road.
For more information, please contact Village Administrator Dustin Sutton at (309) 686-2385 or at dsutton@heightspd.com.