County relief grant helping to save 200 small, local businesses

County relief grant helping to save 200 small, local businesses

MARIEL: "WITH FORCED COVIDCLOSURES, ITS BEEN DIFFICULTFOR LOCAL BUSINESSES TO MAKEENOUGH MONEY TO PAY RENT, TOPAY EMPLOYEES AND REALLY TOJUST STAY AFLOAT.

SO THISFUNDING HELPS ABOUT 200BUSINESSES ACROSS HAMILTONCOUNTY BRIDGE THE GAP, ANDKEEP DOORS OPEN."PACK"NATS:"meet the rent manager downhere now."FOR BUSINESS OWNERNZINGHA BYRDNZINGHABYRD/SWEET SISTAH SPLASHCULTURAL CENTER"It hasn't beeneasy, but we haven't given uphope." COVID HAS HIT HARD.HER STOREFRONT, "SWEET SISTAHSPLASH" IS A CULTURAL EVENTSPACE.

THE PANDEMIC HAS PUT ASTOP TO THAT.

NZINGHABYRD/SWEET SISTAH SPLASHCULTURAL CENTER"We weren'table to have any programs orworkshops.

Being that that isour main source of income, itreally hurt the business."SHE'S HAD TO PAY RENT OUT OFPOCKET AND WORK WITH HERLANDLORD.

THAT IS UNTIL SHERECEIVED WORD SHE WAS AWARDEDMONEY THROUGH HAMILTONCOUNTY'S "SMALL BUSINESSRELIEF GRANT."NZINGHABYRD/SWEET SISTAH SPLASHCULTURAL CENTER"It's a hugedeal It just takes thatburden off my shoulders."SWEETSISTA SPLASH IS ONE OF ABOUT200 LOCAL BUSINESSES GRANTEDFUNDING.

YOU CAN SEE THEM ALLHERE, MARKED ON THIS MAP.

OFTHOSE, ABOUT 80 ARE MINORITYOWNED BUSINESSES.

AND 90,WOMEN OWNED.

ON AVERAGE,BUSINESSES RECEIVED AROUND 8THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THE MONEY,IS FROM THE CARES ACT.

DENISEDRIEHAUS/HAMILTON COUNTYCOMMISSIONER "We tried to honein, very small, those thatdidn't hav the ability to winan award from the federalgovernment for the PPP."TO BEELIGIBLE THIS ROUND-BUSINESSES COULD "NOT" HAVERECEIVED ANY MONEY FROM THEFEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND,NEEDED TO HAVE 50 OR FEWEREMPLOYEESTHAT COULD CHANGE, ASTHE COUNTY PREPARES TO ISSUE ASECOND ROUND OF GRANTS.STEPHANIE SUMMEROWDUMAS/HAMILTON COUNTYCOMMISSIONER"We know the needis there."NZINGHA BYRD/SWEETSISTAH SPLASH CULTURAL CENTER"Keep your eyes open and actfast.

If any funding becomesavailable.

Make sure you'rechecking online."MARIEL:ANDTHERE WILL BE A SECOND ROUNDOF GRANTS GIVEN OUT.

THAT'LLHAPPEN IN A FEW WEEKS.

THECOUNTY SAYS IT'S WORKING TOEXPAND WHO IS ELIGIBLE, SOMORE BUSINESS OWNERS CANAPPLY, AND BENEFIT.

IN OVERTHE RHINE, MARIEL CARBONE,WCPO NINE NEWS.