Forty-eight Champaign Businesses Receive COVID Relief Grants
The City of Champaign congratulates the 48 small local businesses who were recently awarded Small Business Incentive Program – COVID Relief grants from the City. In total, $520,000 in grant funds were awarded to support our valued small businesses and help save local jobs. The average grant award was $10,833, with 22 businesses receiving the maximum grant award of $15,000. As of October, all $520,000 in available grant funds were awarded to 48 small businesses in Champaign. Of the businesses to receive an award, 34 reported as minority-owned, 19 reported as woman-owned, with some businesses selecting both categories.
“The response to this grant opportunity was very positive and it is very rewarding to work with and provide funding assistance to our community’s local small businesses during this unprecedented time,” said Community Development Specialist Janel Gomez. “The City is particularly proud to be able to provide financial support to so many of our local minority- and woman-owned businesses who provide critical services and jobs for our community.”
Upon receiving a grant award, Michael McDonald, co-owner of Wood N Hog said, “The COVID Relief Grant significantly improved our opportunity to keep our doors open post pandemic. We are very grateful that the City believed in our business enough to allocate funds to keep us open. None of us ‘smalls’ know what tomorrow will look like but today we are hopeful and optimistic that with COVID Relief funds we are given a fighting chance to compete.”
This past summer, the City received Federal CARES Act funding to be used to respond to the COVID crisis. The City Council then amended the City’s Small Business Incentive Program so the program could be used to quickly distribute the newly available grant funding to small business impacted by the pandemic. To qualify for the program, businesses had to commit to preserving a low-income job(s) or the business owner had to qualify as low income.
The City of Champaign congratulates all these Small Business Incentive Program – COVID Relief grant awardees:
- Wood N Hog
- CBPB Popcorn
- C-U La La Noodle
- Circles Boutique
- WIN Recovery Network
- Living Yoga Center
- Fleurish
- Suits by Souljah
- Antiques & More at Staley Rd
- Nannyville
- Cellairis
- Mary’s Master Cleaning
- Mizu Campus LLC
- Henderson Janitorial
- Original Designs Barbershop
- Custom Clean
- Salon Expression
- Nailed Perfection
- Lotta Love Salon & Cutz
- Leadaz Athletic Footwear
- Animals on Wheels
- Restoring Balance
- Green Jade
- Furniture Lounge
- Signature Grill
- Dandelion Vintage Clothing
- Classic Home Consignment
- McGuire Homes
- Scanics
- The Upper Bout
- Aircribz
- Chick Shack/Campus Burger
- Habitat for Humanity
- Fresh International Market
- Jills Creative Expression
- We Do Lawncare and Home Repair
- Dish Passionate Cuisine
- Stans Sportsworld
- Café Bene
- Minuteman Press
- Smith’s Towing
- Latea Bubble Tea
- Caribbean Grill
- Sushi Kame
- Phocafe
- Top Food Restaurant
- Shoe Refresh
- SA Fitness LLC