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PARKERSBURG -- Some federal funds allocated by the cities of Parkersburg and Vienna to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic have been awarded, but balances remain for each program.
Parkersburg Development Director Rickie Yeager told members of Parkersburg City Council this week that the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council, which is administering the city's Small Business Relief Fund, has processed 20 applications and funds are being awarded to 13 applicants, with another pending.
That amounts to $82,688.60 in financial assistance from additional Community Development Block Grant funds provided through the C.A.R.E.S. Act passed earlier this year by Congress.
Council allocated $300,000 to the effort, so there's a balance of $217,012.40, Yeager said. How it will be administered going forward will be discussed by the city's Development staff and the MOVRC and a new round of funding announced in the future, he said.
Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council Executive Director Carole Jackson said she was surprised they didn't receive enough applications in the first round to exhaust the money.
"We expected more of them to apply," she said.
Vienna City Council allocated about $63,000 for their version of the program, also administered by the MOVRC. Jackson said there have been six applications for those funds, with four awarded a total of $27,850.
Vienna Finance Director Amy Roberts said businesses can continue to apply.
Recipients include beauty and barber shops, medical-related service businesses, day cares, restaurants and retail stores, Jackson said. The funds can be used for regular expenses like payroll, utilities and rent, as well as the purchase of protective equipment or to compensate for an increase in the cost of supplies.
"That hit the restaurants," Jackson said. "There for a while the meat prices went so high."
Receiving previous assistance, like the Payroll Protection Program, does not make a business ineligible for this funding, Jackson said.
"A lot of them didn't think they would qualify because they had already received the PPP funds," she said.
Roberts said businesses can continue to apply.
Businesses within the city limits of Vienna are eligible for up to $10,000 if they can document the unmet need and have been in business for at least one year since March 1, 2019; were in good standing with applicable city fees as of Dec. 31, 2019; are a low-to moderate-income business owner or a business employing or previously employing at least 51 percent low-to-moderate income workers; and employ 25 full time equivalent low-to moderate-income workers.
Parkersburg had similar criteria, with $17,500 the maximum amount of assistance available. It's unlikely but possible that some of those details could change in the next round of funding, Yeager said. The city will announce the next round once everything has been finalized.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.