Kendall County panel OKs more federal small business COVID-19 relief grants

YORKVILLE – The Kendall County Board is pushing ahead to distribute $2 million in federal grant money to local small businesses that have suffered revenue losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The county has already awarded slightly more than $223,000 to nine Kendall enterprises that were the first to apply for the American Rescue Act Fund monies.

The board’s Economic Development Committee on Jan. 28 approved another round of grants for 15 businesses, totaling nearly $343,600. The full county board is expected to give final approval for the awards at its Feb. 1 meeting.

With a budget of $2 million, the demand for the grant money is outstripping the available supply.

County Finance and Budget Analyst Jennifer Karales said there are another 250 applications that have been filed seeking grants.

However, County Administrator Scott Koeppel said that the first 90 or so applications will eat up the $2 million.

Finance Committee Chairman Matt Kellogg and Economic Development Committee Chairman Dan Koukol said the board is considering options for transferring additional federal COVID-19 funds at its disposal for a second phase of the small business grants later this year.

Most of the applicants have been using the grant money to pay for utilities, salaries and rent or mortgage payments, Koeppel said.

Grants covering 25% of lost revenues between 2019 and 2020, or a maximum of $25,000, may be awarded.

Businesses with fewer than 50 employees and that meet statutory requirements under Section 3 of the Small Business Act may apply for the grant money.

The key qualifications for receiving a grant are that the business must be physically located within Kendall County, have operated during 2019 and 2020, have filed tax returns for those years and are currently open.

The businesses must demonstrate that they lost revenue, as shown through tax filings, because of the pandemic.

All but two of the 15 grants approved by the economic development panel were for the $25,000 maximum.

These included: Oswego Brewing Company, 61 Main Street, Oswego; Top Shelf Cleaning, 709 Bluestem Drive, Yorkville and Tap House Grill, 123 W. Washington St., Oswego.

Also: A Royal Paint, 1401 Crimson Lane, Yorkville; LA Tan, 2320 Route 30, Oswego and The Wash House, 114 W. Route 34, Plano.

Also: RMT Properties, 2004 Prairie Grass Lane, Yorkville; Rosati’s of Yorkville, 1985 Marketview Drive, Yorkville and TCBY, 2840 Route 34, Oswego.

Also: Consultax, 205 Stonemill Lane, Oswego; Watson Visuals, 603 East North St., Plano; Spirit Cheerleading All Stars, 125 Boombah Blvd, Yorkville and Baker Dental Care, 1128 Douglas Road, Oswego.

The committee also approved a $9,200 grant for Melissa Jean, 108 Main St., Oswego and an $11,833 grant for Ginger and Soul, 131 E. Hydraulic St., Suite C, Yorkville.

The county had been planning to distribute the money in two $1 million phases this year, but the flood of applications prompted board members to put all of the money on the table immediately.

The application page remains open through Feb. 23 and may be reached at https://kendallcounty.smapply.io/