Small Business Rapid Relief Funds Program Round 3

The City of Decatur is now accepting applications for the Decatur Small Business Rapid Relief Funds Round 3.  The City was awarded $1.2 Million from the DCEO CURE-ES program to provide to our small businesses and hospitality industry.  Applications will be accepted electronically beginning November 29th until 3:00 pm on December 10th through the City of Decatur’s website.

This grant is being made available to reimburse Decatur businesses for expenses incurred between March 1 and December 30, 2021 related outdoor dining expenses, PPE purchases, as well as mortgage/rent and utility relief. Hotels/motels, bars and restaurants, as well as other small businesses are encouraged to apply immediately online for this grant opportunity to help alleviate the financial constraint the COVID pandemic has had on businesses.  Homebased businesses are not eligible.  Businesses who have not received funding in Rounds 1 & 2 will be given priority.

Click here for full program details.

Click here to apply for a grant.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact City staff at (217) 450-2350.  The Decatur Small Business Rapid Relief Funds, are in addition to the small business assistance grants the City has provided to CICD to assist local businesses.

City of Decatur
Economic & Community Development Department
217-450-2350

 

Small Business Rapid Relief Funds Program Round 2

The City of Decatur will start accepting applications for the Decatur Small Business Rapid Relief Funds  Monday, May 10, 2021.  The City has been awarded $1.2 Million from the DCEO CURE-ES program to provide to our small businesses and hospitality industry.  The applications will be accepted until 3:00 pm on June 4, 2021.

Hotels/motels, along with bars and restaurants, as well as other small businesses are encouraged to apply immediately online for this grant opportunity to help alleviate the financial constraint that COVID-19 has had on their businesses.  This grant money is being made available to reimburse Decatur businesses for expenses incurred between March 1 and December 30, 2020, related outdoor dining expenses, PPE purchases, as well as mortgage/rent and utility relief.

Click here for full program details.

 

SBA – RESTAURANT REVITALIZATION FUND

The U.S. Small Business Administration began accepting registrations for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Online applications are being accepted on Monday, May 3, 2021 at NOON EDT. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has released information on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) program. This program was established under the American Rescue Plan Act. This program is awarding funding to restaurants, bars, and other similar places of business that serve food or drink. The purpose of the funding is to provide support to eligible entities that suffered revenue losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program has been appropriated $28.6 billion for the SBA to award funds nationwide.

Businesses can review the sample application, program guide and cross-program eligibility chart on SBA COVID-19 relief options. All information can be found on the website through this link: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-fund.

For the first 21 days that the program is open, the SBA will prioritize reviewing applications from small businesses owned by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Following the 21-day period, all eligible applicants are encouraged to submit applications.

Please refer to the program guide on the SBA website for a full list of eligibility guidelines.

Eligible entities under this program are for-profit businesses not permanently closed and include businesses where public or patrons assemble for the primary purpose of being served food or drink including:

  • Restaurants
  • Food stands, food trucks, food carts
  • Caterers
  • Bars, saloons, lounges, taverns
  • Bakeries
  • Brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms
  • Wineries and distilleries

Visit sba.gov.

 

The City of Decatur has partnered with Community Investment Corporation of Decatur, Inc. (CICD) to administer a Small Business COVID Assistance Grant. This grant will provide short term assistance to businesses that are located and have employees in low to moderate income census tract areas. Assistance is provided to businesses with up to twenty-five (25) employees not including the owner. Additionally, the program is set-up to pay the vendor, utility (electric, power, or gas), landlord, and/or mortgage company directly for past due bills only. Program assistance will be a minimum of $2,000 up to $10,000 per business.  For more details on this grant and to register on the Forward platform. The Small Business COVID Assistance Grant will begin accepting applications on February 16th at 12:00 PM CST.  We encourage you to gather necessary documents and prepare your submission in advance of the application going live as applications will be considered in the order they are received.  Full press release announcing grant

The City of Decatur is pleased to announce it has awarded 66 local businesses with reimbursement grants in the amount of $615,017.00 through the Decatur Small Business Rapid Relief Funds.  This project has been supported by the Department of Commerce Economic Opportunity (DCEO) CURE-ES program in which the City has awarded a little over half of the funds in Round One.  The City will be announcing Round Two of this grant in the near future.

Hotels/motels, bars and restaurants, as well as other small businesses were encouraged to apply for this grant opportunity to help alleviate the financial constraint that COVID-19 has had on their businesses.  This grant money was made available to reimburse Decatur businesses for expenses incurred between March 1 and December 30, 2020, related outdoor dining expenses, PPE purchases, as well as mortgage/rent and utility relief.  Full list of businesses funded here…Small Business Rapid Relief Funds Business List

The city of Decatur understands that the coronavirus is more than just a public health emergency; it is also a business interruption emergency. For this reason, the city of Decatur will use its website (and social media) to provide information to help businesses and residents who have suffered disruption because of COVID-19.  Check back to this page regularly.

  1.  City Council has approved waiving permit fees for restaurants, bars, as well as retail businesses that are temporarily seeking to use public sidewalks, parking lots, other public properties to conduct their business.  We have a simplified application and process.  Delivery and curbside pickups can continue for those businesses providing this service. Click here for an up to date restaurant guide.
  2. Small business assistance can be obtained at this link from IL DCEO
  3. Expedited unemployment benefits for employees negatively impacted can be obtained at this link.   Unemployment insurance eligibility and the application process call Claimant Services at (800) 244- 5631.
  4. The City of Decatur is temporarily allowing our restaurants to sell alcohol for off-site consumption, meaning you can likely get a drink to-go from your take-out restaurant.  Read the entire Liquor Commission Document
  5. On November 16, 2020, due to the increasing recommendation of federal and state public health agencies, the City of Decatur adopted a local mask requirement Ordinance.  This essentially requires a face covering to be worn when indoors in public places to help curb the spread of COVID-19.  There are reasonable exceptions and parameters to the requirement that can be found here in the  Ordinance.

 

Take Your Business Outside Permits

Temporary Use of Public ROW and Property Permit
Sidewalk Sign Permit – Application
Food and Beverage Cart Permit Application

Business FAQ HERE

Short-Term Sales Tax Relief

Trying to understand if your business is essential or subject to stay at home order, click for the essential business checklist.

Illinois State Treasurer announces a Bridge Loan Program for businesses, please click here to connect to the Treasurer’s website.

 

Religious Services

The State’s position is that indoor religious services are “strongly discouraged,” but if a church insists on having indoor services anyway, then they should follow the attached rules. As of now, this will be Decatur’s official position too.

 

Federal and State Programs

Aid to Small Businesses

 

Aid to Medium Sized Businesses

 

Aid to Large Sized Business

 

Aid to All Businesses

 

Contact Information

General Resources: visit coronavirus.illinois.gov

PPE Equipment

Business Assistance

 

Other Resources