Second round of COVID-19 grants are announced

Lorain County Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center at Lorain County Community College announced May 15 the second round of grants via the Lorain County COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Relief Program, the emergency grant for Lorain County businesses. The new funders in this round of grants include the city of Avon, Lubrizol, US Bank and PNC Bank, according to a news release. The three groups join the previous funders of Nord Family Foundation, KeyBank Business Boost & Build Program, Northwest Bank, CommStar Credit Union and Achieve Credit Union, the release said. Proceeds from the sale of “Lorain County Strong” T-shirts also provided funding for this round. Lorain County COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Relief Grant Program is a grant for businesses located within Lorain County with three to 20 employees with a maximum $2,500 grant. Avon’s contribution will only go toward businesses located within their community. There still will be grants given to other Lorain County businesses from the additional funding, according to the release. “We are very happy to

LORAIN COUNTY

be able to continue to help our Lorain County businesses by providing an additional round of grants, especially now as businesses are reopening,” said Lisa Hutson, director of the Small Business Development Center at LCCC. “The 34 businesses that received the first round were all very excited to get some financial help,” said Tony Gallo, president of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce. “We are grateful for the new funding stream and the generosity of all who participated. “We are happy to provide 35 new grants to city of Avon businesses and an additional eight grants to businesses located elsewhere in Lorain County. When the grant program is finished, we will have provided over $192,500 in funding to our locally owned businesses from every area of Lorain County.” The Lorain County COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Relief Grant Program applications for city of Avon businesses will be available starting at 8 a.m., May 18, on the Chamber’s website. The applications previously received for other Lorain County communities will be considered for the additional eight grants.

For more information, visit http://www. loraincountychamber. com/grant/.