The City of Monmouth has applied for a grant, and is encouraged by communications from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), that it is quite possible the City will be awarded $250,000 in federal CARES Act monies, to provide grants to local Monmouth businesses, to reimburse them for costs they have incurred due to Covid-19 and restrictions/closures from executive orders issued by the Governor. Such costs would include expenses to protect the health and safety of employees and customers such a plexiglass barriers and PPE, improvements to a building’s ventilation system, outdoor furniture, heaters, tents for outdoor service, or similar reasonable costs. For businesses that did not receive a forgivable PPP loan earlier this year, they may also be eligible for reimbursement of limited operating costs, specifically rent, mortgage, business loans and gas/electric bills. Municipal water bills and payroll are not eligible for reimbursement. Eligible costs must have been incurred between March 1, 2020 and December 30, 2020. I’ve attached a program narrative and application form for your review.
Please understand, the City has not been awarded this grant yet, but in an effort to get word out to Monmouth businesses in anticipation, and the fact that the State is giving the City and businesses a very short time to get these grant funds awarded, we basically have till the first of the year to receive applications from local businesses. I can’t promise anyone the City will get this grant, but I also know that every day that passes without promoting this grant program, is the likelihood that fewer businesses will bother to apply in the first place.
I will provide assistance to any business interested in applying. Like most state and federal grant programs, there are a lot of conditions and restrictions.
Thanks, much appreciated.
Lew Steinbrecher – City Administrator
***Report Courtesy of the City of Monmouth***
