West Dundee awards grants to three restaurants

Three West Dundee restaurants are getting some help to make improvements to their buildings.

Village trustees this week approved nearly $57,000 in grants awarded to Emmett's Brewing Co., Woodfire, and The Village Squire. The village is using a portion of the $500,000 it received from the American Rescue Plan Act for the grant program.

"Our industry was hit particularly hard by COVID-related shutdowns and operating restrictions," said Andrew Burns, owner and founder of Emmett's Brewing Co. "We are grateful to the village of West Dundee for creating this fund."

Rather than reimburse restaurants for lost revenue, Village President Chris Nelson said the village developed a grant program that was tied to physical improvements to downtown restaurants.

"We felt like that was a better use of funds," West Dundee Village Manager Joe Cavallaro said. "It illustrates a continuing investment in the downtown district and the West Dundee community."

Emmett's Brewing Co. and The Village Squire both received the maximum grant amount of $20,000. Woodfire received $17,000.

Emmett's Brewing Co. is using the grant to help cover part of a $103,900 project that included upgrading and replacing the rooftop HVAC units. Burns said the project will help improve air quality in the restaurant. The Village Squire is using the $20,000 grant to cover expenses from various improvements totaling $37,239. Improvements include a new water heater, outdoor lighting, booth partitions, signage, tuckpointing, HVAC improvements and painting. Woodfire is using the grant to cover expenses from a $28,000 project involving the purchase of tables, chairs, awnings and signage.

The village opened the grant program to assist local restaurants and received three completed applications for qualifying work.

The village was awarded a total of $1 million in ARPA funds and received the first installment of $500,000 last summer. The village anticipates receiving the remaining $500,000 later this year.