Plainfield Offers Grants To Businesses Hit By Coronavirus

PLAINFIELD, IL — Like many other communities in Will County, Plainfield is also helping businesses that have been forced to shutter due to the governor's coronavirus mitigations. During its Monday meeting, the Village Board adopted a resolution establishing the small business relief grant to help businesses hit hardest by the pandemic.

Plainfield is part of the Illinois Department of Public Health's Region 7, which has now seen two mitigation rollbacks. For restaurants, particularly during the current mitigation rollback, it essentially limits their business to carry-out only due to the weather.

Jake Melrose, economic development manager for the village, said the grant focuses on smaller, independently-owned businesses to help reimburse economic losses. He said staff is recommending a maximum grant of $5,000 per business.

"The majority of recipients for the proposed grant will be food or drink establishments with service primarily dedicated to indoor dining/drink service," Melrose said. "Other eligible industries that have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 mitigation measures include banquet halls with an occupancy of 50 or more people, travel and lodging associated business, and indoor amusement venues with food and drink service. National chains are excluded from the grant."

Application procedures have been established to confirm economic losses/impacts, and they are modeled after similar grants that businesses may have already applied for. This was done to make the process easier for local businesses.

Staff has provided businesses with a three-week window to apply with the intent to begin sending out grant awards in December.

Melrose said several neighboring towns such as Romeoville and Lockport have also taken similar actions to help struggling restaurants. The village is offering this in addition to the Business Interruption Grant offered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The state grant provides $540 million to up to 3,500 small businesses that experienced limited ability to operate due to COVID-19 related closures. Will County has set aside more than $24 million to assist local businesses, and they are currently offering a second round of grants.

Eligibility criteria include:

  • Businesses able to demonstrate an economic loss or impact to operations due to Region 7 COVID-19 mitigation restrictions in August/September and October/November.

  • Twenty-five or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.

  • Cannot exceed $2.5 million annual revenue (2019).

  • Current village of Plainfield business license holder.

  • For profit businesses with ITIN, EIN, or SSN (if no ITIN/EIN).

  • In operation as of July 1.

  • No home-based businesses.

  • Independently owned and operated businesses.

  • National chains are not eligible.

  • All local taxes must be paid and current.

  • In good standing and not in default with the State of Illinois or village of Plainfield

Village Trustee Cally Larson supported the resolution and asked if owners of salons would qualify for the grant

"They've had to completely shut down or limit how many people they can have," she said.

Plainfield Village Administrator Brian Murphy said Will County has also made $94 million available to business owners and even though he acknowledges the hardships faces by all businesses, "we cannot solve everyone's challenges."

All grant applications in Plainfield must be submitted by 4 p.m. Nov. 27 for consideration, Melrose said. Grants will be awarded by Dec. 21.

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This article originally appeared on the Plainfield Patch