CITY OF URBANA RECOGNIZES COVID-19 BUSINESS GRANT RECIPIENTS
The City of Urbana would like to acknowledge those Urbana businesses that received $1,102,021 in COVID-19 relief funding in recent months.
“We’re grateful to be able to distribute over $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds to local businesses. Our community has rallied around these businesses to help maintain their operations and help retain jobs. We continue to ask everyone to wear a mask and respect public health guidelines to help them stay open,” Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin said.
The City’s Economic Development and Grant Management Divisions have been working diligently to help businesses secure these crucial funds that will help defray costs of operating a business during the pandemic.
“Yes, the grant money has helped keep our doors open by covering rent and keeping all of our staff fully employed for their full-time and part-time hours,” Paris Baldarotta said of the business she co-owns with her husband, Jordan Baldarotta.
Baldarotta’s, which has been in operation for three years, is a Sicilian-American sandwich shop located in Lincoln Square Mall.
“While no amount of funding will be enough to help our many businesses who are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was pleased to see that over $1 million in funding has been disbursed so far and hope that more with will be forthcoming.” Stepheny McMahon, Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Urbana, said.
City of Urbana COVID-19 Grant Recipients:
Hospitality Emergency Grant Program
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) launched the Hospitality Emergency Grant Program to help hospitality businesses make ends meet in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants are used to support working capital, like payroll and rent, job training, and technology to support shifts in operations including increased use of carry out and delivery.
Recipient:
• Rose Bowl Tavern
State of Illinois Business Interruption Grant (BIG) – Round 1 and Round 2
The BIG program was developed to provide economic relief for small businesses hit hardest by COVID-19. BIG leverages federal funding provided by the Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help offset COVID-19 related losses for Illinois small businesses. An initial “Round 1” of funding was directed to restaurants, personal care services, gyms and fitness clubs, and businesses. “Round 2” of BIG provided relief for all types of small businesses, with a particular focus on downstate businesses.
Round 1 Recipients:
• Amara Yoga & Arts
• Baldarotta's
• Broadway Food Group
• BBQ Premium Chicken
• Merry-Ann's Diner
• Bab Plus Korean Restaurant
• Cafeteria & Co/Sipyard
• Basil Thai
• Urbana Gardens Restaurant
• Wood N Hog
• H2o Salon
Round 2 Recipients:
• Bunny's Tavern
• Blackbird (NOLAS)
• Rose Bowl Tavern
• Masijta Grill
• Memory Lane Photography
• Ricks Bakery
• Crane Alley
• Dancing Dog
• The Scotsman's Kitchen
• Allied Mechanical Services
• Michelle's Bridal
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
CDBG is a flexible program administered by Housing and Urban Development which provides funding to states. CDBG funds have helped with recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the business community. The CARES Act enabled additional HUD support to CDBG grantees.
Recipients:
• Art Coop
• Ashar African Market
• Baldarotta's
• Best Western
• Bohemia
• Brittany's Sweet Spot
• Ceptier
• C-U Adventures
• Dear 72
• Defy Gravity
• DP's Beauty Supplies
• Econo Lodge
• Gracie Barra Champaign
• Judilee
• KoFusion
• La Mixteca
• Ms. Angis Hair
• Piato
• Po Boys
• Rose Bowl Tavern
• Serionix
• Shear Impressions
• Sipyard
• Soul Care
• Sugga Shaii Sweets
• Urbana Acupuncture
• Urbana Hair Lounge
• Wood N Hog
Note: This list does not include funding from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Regional Planning Commission (RPC) Layoff Aversion Grant, as recipients are not reported specifically by name.