Nearly two dozen small businesses in the Elgin area have received grants of $10,000 to $20,000 through the state’s Business Interruption Grant program.
About $390,000 of the $46 million available in the first round of grants went to businesses located in Elgin, South Elgin, Carpentersville, East and West Dundee, according to information from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Grant recipients can use the money for working capital expenses like payroll, rent, utilities and other operational costs affected by the pandemic.
The 12 recipients in Elgin are Lounge 51, Casa de estilos, Eaton’s Redwood Inn, Los Comales, Mama Lee’s Gourmet Popcorn, Midwest Elite Gymnastics Academy, Martini Room, CrossFit Arioch, Joseph’s Hair Fashion Salon, a Dunkin Donuts franchise owner, LGN Performance and TJ’s Bar and Grill.
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Other recipients include El Molino Mexican Restaurant, New Hunan Chinese Restaurant, Salon Anovin and Stacy’s Place in Carpentersville; Bill Cho’s United Taekwondo Center, Orangetheory Fitness South Elgin and South Elgin Budokan Martial Arts in South Elgin; The Bar Gym and Strength Training in East Dundee; and Blue Line Bar and Grill and Emmett’s Brewing in West Dundee.
The first round of the grants were available for small restaurants/bars, barber shops/salons, gyms/fitness centers and small businesses located in “disproportionately impacted areas,” the news release said. About 40% went to minority-owned businesses.
According to the state’s list, 11 of the 22 Elgin-area recipients are in disproportionately impacted areas or locations the state identified as disproportionately impacted economically by COVID-19.
The next round of state grants will be awarded to childcare providers. Applications are being accepted now for a share of the $270 million available.