County approves first CARES Act grants for small businesses

The Greene County Commission yesterday approved the issuance of more than $10 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act grants, with the first awards for small businesses announced.

Small businesses represented a small percentage of the grant round, at a combined $70,000, according to a news release. Taxpayer-supported entities received the most funding, at $4.3 million; followed by health care organizations, $3.4 million; nonprofits and community organizations, $1.3 million; and schools, $955,779.

Dining By Design Gourmet Inc. and The Hill SGF LLC were the top small-business grant recipients, at $10,000 each for payroll.

The other small businesses approved by the commission for CARES Act grants are:
• 4 by 4 Brewing Co. LLC, $5,000 for a label machine;
• Adore Home Store LLC, $5,000 for payroll, supplies and rent;
• Blend Creative LLC, $5,000 for payroll, rent and utilities;
• Center for Music Therapy and Wellness LLC, $5,000 for supplies;
• Dance With Me LLC/Savoy Ballroom, $5,000 for operations;
• Georgia Mac’s, $5,000 for rent;
• Itty Bitty City LLC, $5,000 for payroll;
• Julie’s Chewies, $5,000 for payroll and operational expenses;
• Locke and Stache Media LLC, $5,000 for rent and payroll; and
• Osborn’s School of Tae Kwon Do, $5,000 for rent, utilities and insurance.

Greene County is setting aside $6.5 million for small-business grants as part of the $34.4 million received from the federal government, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

In the latest grant round, the recipient that received the highest amount was the city of Springfield: $2.2 million for payroll and COVID-19-related expenses, according to the release. In the category of taxpayer-supported entities, the Greene County Office of Emergency Management received the next highest amount: $1.8 million for personal protective equipment for 14 entities.

In health care, CoxHealth was approved for nearly $2 million and Mercy Hospital Springfield received $1.5 million. Both hospitals are slated to use the funds for reimbursements and front-line health expenditures.

The Republic School District received the largest grant in the education category: $310,108 for PPE, technology and supplies. And in nonprofit and community organizations, the No. 1 award went to United Way of the Ozarks: $235,319 for technology, supplies for agencies, PPE and staffing, according to the release.

The county has disbursed more than $20 million in three rounds of CARES Act grants, according to past reporting.