Council funds grant program

Portland businesses owners can now apply for a grant of up to $1,250 from the city.

Portland City Council gave its final stamp of approval for the Small Business Resilience Grant program Monday, weeks after it was established through executive order by Portland Mayor John Boggs.

Council also approved the appropriation of $150,000 in Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) funds for the program.

Applications for the grant, which will award up to $1,250 for eligible Portland businesses to help with financial hardships associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, opened this morning at bit.ly/2EbHMcC. Applicants must have a Google account to complete the application.

Portland EDIT Advisory Committee chairman Travis Richards and Boggs estimate around 75 businesses will apply for the grant.

“It’s easy to see that 75 might come quick,” Richards said.

It is possible more money could go toward grant funding if the appropriated $150,000 isn’t enough.

The EDIT advisory committee, which will administer grants and review applications, met twice last week to decide the specifics of the application. Members said most if not all applicants will be awarded some money.

Council approved an amendment to the application that could possibly allow grant money to go toward costs that could have been covered by state and federal governments’ Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Previously, the EDIT committee wanted applicants to apply for PPP before asking for grant money from the city for payroll, rent or utilities out of fear that money from the city could make those businesses eligible for PPP. However, Richards learned that local banks are no longer accepting PPP applications, so council decided to relax that requirement so that it is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Businesses that received PPP can still apply for the grant to help recover costs from purchasing personal protective equipment, COVID-19 signage or cleaning supplies or lost revenue since the pandemic started.

Completed applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. Business owners have until Oct. 31 to apply.

Applicants will be required to either submit profit losses in the second financial quarter compared to the second quarter of 2019 or submit invoices or receipts for COVID-19 related costs since March or projected costs in the future.

Businesses are eligible for the grant if they regularly employ 30 full-time employees or fewer, have an annual revenue less than $1.5 million and are up-to-date on property taxes.

The front page of the latest fiscal year’s tax returns will also be required in addition to a W-9 form and federal tax ID number. Those documents can either be submitted online or dropped off at city hall to complete the application.

In other business, council members Michele Brewster, Mike Aker, Don Gillespie, Matt Goldsworthy, Dave Golden, Janet Powers and Kent McClung heard:

•From Boggs that gas and sewer lines have been installed under brick alley in downtown Portland and will soon be rebuilt with new bricks. “(Brick alley) is ready to be put back together and will be turned into a pedestrian walkway very soon,” the mayor said.

•From McClung that he has seen too many families violate city ordinance when driving their golf carts in Portland, saying he once saw a 10-year-old drive the cart on city streets with his grandfather in the passenger seat. Portland’s ordinance requires golf cart drivers to have a valid driver's license and have as many seats as passengers on the cart at a single time.

•From Gillespie that the main bridge at Hudson Park ought to be in better shape than what it is. Considering a different bridge, Indiana Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting at the park’s amphitheater at 7 p.m. Thursday to discuss its plan to repair the concrete bowstring truss bridge on Meridian Street (U.S. 27) over the Salamonie River.

•From Golden that he has concerns about the Tri-State Tractor and Engine Show, which is set to begin next week despite protest from Boggs and the Jay County Health Department. Boggs said his office has printed 150 signs that are reminders of Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s statewide mask mandate that will be posted along city streets and given to local vendors in an effort to promote safe behavior during the show.