Cary to award grant money to sales-tax generating local businesses

Eligible sales tax-generating local businesses affected by COVID-19 can get up to $20,000 under a new Business Relief Grant Program created by the village of Cary.

Cary's grant program is primarily funded through a $500,000 grant the village received from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, according to a news release.

The village will provide an additional $100,000 for a total grant fund of $600,000.

"The COVID-19 mitigation measures have significantly impacted all of our lives and have taken a devastating toll on many of our local businesses," Mayor Mark Kownick said in a statement. "We are pleased to be awarded $500,000 from the DCEO to help our local businesses. We have and will continue to seek opportunities to support our local businesses during these challenging times."

The village will start accepting applications Dec. 28. Funds will be released to approved businesses beginning the week of Jan. 4 and the program will be first-come, first-served.

Brian Simmons, director of community development, said during Tuesday's Cary Village Board meeting that any business in the village with taxable sales below a $4 million annual threshold, and that generate walk-in traffic are eligible for the grant. In addition, businesses must demonstrate they've lost revenue during the pandemic.

Home-based business operations and non-retail type of operations would not be eligible.

"We'll be focusing on more of the mom and pop operations, if you will, that are more locally grown," Simmons said. "So franchises and businesses with more than four locations across the region or the country would not be eligible for the grant program that's derived here."

If businesses want to participate in the grant program, one of the criteria is they need to work to remain open for six months after receiving the funds, and there is criteria from the state that businesses will need to adhere to as well.

Applications will be accepted until all funds are dispersed, or before the state's deadline for the program of Jan. 31, according to the release.

"Time is of the essence of this program," Simmons said. "The state award requires us to spend any the grant funds by the end of January, so it's a very quick turnaround."