Businesses share in COVID aid

At least 10 local business received loans of $1 million or more from the federal government, meant to help save jobs.

Calhoun’s Apache Mills was one the biggest of the early beneficiaries of the small business lending program aimed at minimizing layoffs during the coronavirus pandemic, with the company receiving between $5 and $10 million, according to information released this week.

The application from Apache Mills did not project saving any jobs, but Gordon County employment agency 2Work LLC, citing 500 employees, and Talley Construction Co. in Rossville, with 223, received loans of up to $5 million.

All told, the Treasury Department’s Paycheck Protection Program authorized $520 billion for nearly 5 million mostly small businesses and nonprofits. On Monday, the government released the names and some other details of recipients who were approved for $150,000 or more.

More than 86% of the loans were for under $1 million.

Other local businesses on the list that received between $1 and $2 million, as well as the number of employees the loans are meant to protect, included:

Brumlow Mills, 137 employees

Foam Products Corp., 95 employees

Fox Systems Inc., 97 employees Northwest Georgia Paving, no employees listed

LOANS,

Heard that the Sonoraville splash pad is operational and unofficially open. Ledbetter said they are waiting on the sod to take hold before having an official opening, likely on July 18. Also, the county will be working with Keep Calhoun Gordon Beautiful to add additional landscaping to the area around the splash pad.

Head that the new health department building is complete, but that the new parking lot has not been finished because of soil concerns on the space where the old building had been located. The county brought in additional material to shore up the plot and paving should be wrapped up soon.

Approved the 2020/2021 paving list from the road department.

Denied a variance application from Blue Hill Farm on Dews Pond Road. Owner