Council OKs relief program

FORT RECOVERY — Help is available for small businesses.

Fort Recovery Village Council on Tuesday approved the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant Program, which will provide up to $5,000 to local businesses to help cover expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Council is funding the program through the Ohio Coronavirus Relief Fund, provided by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Fort Recovery businesses can begin applying Thursday.

Village administrator Randy Diller explained at the special council meeting Tuesday the village received $39,000 initially to reimburse costs incurred because of the coronavirus pandemic. He estimated about $6,000 to $8,000 of that amount would have been usable in accordance with the requirements.

Recently the village received a second relief package of $19,000. Diller estimated the total amount of funds left over would be about $50,000. If not used, he noted, this money would return to the state.

“It doesn’t make sense to let it out of the village if we can keep it here,” Diller said.

Although the application is still just a draft, rules and regulations are tentatively set. In order to be eligible, businesses must:

•Be located in Fort Recovery.

•Be able to show a 10% decrease in revenue from March 15 through the end of May.

•Have annual gross receipts less than $2,000,000.

•Have less than 50 full-time employees as of March 15.

•Be up to date on property tax payments, not delinquent on income taxes and in good standing with the village.

The funds can be used for lease or mortgage assistance; operation expenses assistance, such as supplies, maintenance and repairs, utilities, etc.; salaries, wages and/or compensation, if not receiving assistance from the state, county or a federal program); and unforeseen expenses, such as purchasing masks, hand sanitizer and safety barriers.

Adult entertainment establishments, banks, savings and loan, credit unions, e-commerce only, liquor or wine stores, vaping stores, tobacco stores or franchised businesses which are not locally owned and independently operated are not eligible.

After a business has been chosen as a recipient, owners will need to provide proof that an expense has or will occur. This expense can happen any time between March 15 and within 60 days after (or no later than Dec. 1) the business has been chosen.

Diller plans to hand-deliver information to nearly all local businesses next week. He said he wants to make sure each business owner understands the program.

Council member Cliff Wendel discussed specific exceptions, saying each individual application should be evaluated.

“The biggest challenge of this is going to be the perception of others and who gets it,” he said.

Mayor Dave Kaup asked for clarification about how money distribution will be justified.

Diller emphasized, “it has to be shown on paper that they had a loss.”

Applications will be available at village hall, and information will be available on the village website, fortrecovery.org. Business owners can apply starting Thursday and applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18.

Council members Greg Schmitz, Scott Pearson, Luke Knapke, Al Post and Wendel, absent Erik Fiely, approved the program.

The council also approved a committee to review applications consisting of fiscal officer Roberta Staugler, Kaup, Diller, Knapke and a representative from one of the financial institutions in town — Diller proposed either Eric Brackman, manager of Mercer Savings Bank, or Shawn Robinson, manager of Park National Bank.

Diller said local business owners have already shared an interest in the program. He noted that some community members may not want to use tax dollars for a “bailout fund” for small businesses, but he explained that this instance was different in his opinion.

“I see this different than a bailout because this is from a loss of revenue from something they didn’t do,” he said. “They didn’t overspend, they weren’t following terrible business practices. There was something that occurred that they couldn’t control.

“I don’t look at it as a bailout; I look at it as an assistance,” he added.