State rolls out 2nd small-business aid program
Grants will range from $10K to $30K as toll from pandemic persists
Jody Morneault, co-owner of Morneault’s Stackpole Moore
Tryon, a Hartford clothing retailer, sobbed as she described Tuesday to Gov. Ned Lamont and state economic development Commissioner David Lehman the collapse of downtown business brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
On a web-based conference with owners of small businesses, she said her Trumbull Street business laid off all employees as customers disappeared.
“Our state capital is totally crumbling and it’s devastated,” Morneault said. “Every corporation is closed. The government buildings are closed. Every financial service company is closed.
“We’re literally living on savings and credit cards and I don’t want to close my store so this money meant so much for me.”
Lamont promised Morneault he will personally pitch in to help her business.
“Believe, me I hear that pain,” he said. “I’m not much of clothes guy myself, but I’ll get my kids over there and that should be a decent day.”
In the most recent program, the state is distributing $35 million in federal money to 2,008 of
Connecticut’s hardest hit businesses such as restaurants and hotels. The Business Recovery Grants will range from $10,000 to $30,000.
“This has been longer and harder for our businesses and our residents than anyone could have expected,” said Lehman said.
It’s the second aid program for small businesses. In May, state economic development officials were swamped by requests for financial help by small businesses shut by the coronavirus and doubled help to $50 million. About 9,000 businesses have been approved for funding, with 7,600 receiving aid for a total of a little less than $40 million, he said.
In total, about 12,000 small businesses in Connecticut will receive assistance from the two programs, he said. Depending on how small business is defined, Connecticut is home to between 80,000 and 100,000 small businesses, Lehman said.
Small businesses have been devastated by the pandemic, limited to fewer customers to enforce social distancing as chain box stores that accommodate hundreds of customers thrive. Restaurants, which have been unable to offer outdoor dining since fall turned to winter, point out they were hit sooner and harder by the coronavirus than nearly any other business.
“This is the dark time of our industry,” said Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association. “January and February without outdoor dining at 50% capacity is a challenge.”