St. Charles organization launches 'Back to Business' plan
The St. Charles Business Alliance is offering grants of up to $5,000 to support businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Providing financial assistance is one of several action items outlined in a "Back to Business Plan" developed to help the business community navigate the public health crisis, Executive Director Jenna Sawicki said.
The organization, which serves as the city's promotional arm, also has been crafting promotional videos, creating itineraries for visitors, and providing marketing and branding assistance to individual establishments.
The alliance was launched last summer when the Downtown St. Charles Partnership merged with the Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau. As the dust settled, Sawicki said, organization leaders identified about $150,000 in leftover consolidation expenses "that we felt was right to give back to the businesses."
After being shut down for months during the stay-at-home order, she said, many shops and restaurants have been struggling to resume operations as the state moved into Phase 3 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Restore Illinois plan. In addition to rehiring employees, business owners also have to acquire outdoor dining furniture and other equipment necessary to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
"The whole idea behind the grant is to give businesses a boost as we start to reopen," Sawicki said. "To be able to show them that we understand we're in hard times, and to help them get through to the other side as we get back to some sort of normalcy."
Offered in partnership with the city, the grants are issued based on the business' reported revenue from 2019. Those that generated $10,000 to $500,000 can receive $1,000 from the alliance; $500,000 to $1 million can receive $2,300; $1 million to $1.5 million can receive $3,650; and $1.5 million to $2 million can receive $5,000.
The money will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and can be used for safety equipment, outdoor furniture or other reopening costs, Sawicki said.
Applications went live Monday and are due June 15. More information is available at stcalliance.org/supportgrant.
As part of its "Back to Business Plan," the alliance also has revamped its marketing strategies to focus more heavily on how businesses are responding to the pandemic and practicing social distancing.
"Patrons want to see that (businesses) are going the extra mile," Sawicki said. "They want to feel safe and feel clean. That is really important."
Similar efforts have been launched in Batavia to increase public confidence that businesses are taking preventive measures.
The Batavia Reconnected initiative is offering grants of up to $1,500, capped at $80,000 total, for retail shops, restaurants, fitness and dance studios, and salons. The money must be spent on sanitizer, sneeze guards, personal protective equipment or other safety improvements.
Applications are due June 16, and 50 qualifying businesses will be chosen by lottery the following day. Materials are available in a Google Drive folder.