More than 100 grants and loans were made to small businesses in Wyandotte County during 2020, according to a report to the Unified Government Economic Development and Finance Committee meeting Monday night.
The grants and loans were from the UG Economic Development Department grants; through the WyCo Loves Local grant program through CARES Act funding; and through a loan partnership with AlltCap and KC Relief and Recovery, according to Shaya Lockett of the UG economic development department.
“Through these programs that we implemented through economic developmentas well as our partnership with AltCap, we were able to provide over $1 million in relief to Wyandotte County businesses,” Lockett said.
She said they understand there is still a huge need for funding and they continue to try to stretch the funding as best as possible.
They feel confident that if more funding becomes available, they have created a system to streamline the process and get funds to businesses in an expedited manner, she said.
“This isn’t what we expected this year, but together we were able to have a huge impact on businesses in our community and help them keep their doors op en,” she said.
The UG awarded $50,000 in economic development grants to small businesses in April, Lockett said.
The WyCo Loves Local Grant provided $825,000 to businesses in Wyandotte County through CARES Act funding, she said.
Also, she said ALT-Cap funding provided $266,616 in loans to businesses in Wyandotte County, she said. The funds were from PPP loans and the KC Region Relief and Recovery loan fund.
Businesses that received small business grants through the initial economic development grants in April included the Dotte Barbershop, $5,000; gimMee Oils LLC, $5,000; Jayhawk Cleaners, $5,000; Kristi’s Academy of Dance, $5,000; Marquez Boots, $5,000; On Demand Employment Services, $5,000; Precise Physical Therapy, $5,000; The Altar Inc., $5,000; Thunderlight Work Boots, $5,000; and Totally Unique Hair Salon, $5,000.
The WyCo Loves Local Grant fund was from CARES Act funding. It received $825,000.
Businesses with 25 or fewer employees were eligible for $10,000 grants and businesses with more than 25 employees were eligible for $20,000, she said.
Applications opened Sept. 17 and were closed on Oct. 7, she said. The program received more requests than it could fund, she added.
They tried to help businesses that were forced to close because of the stay-at-home order and had experienced significant revenue loss, she said. A lot of smaller businesses had a difficult time obtaining federal dollars through the PPP program and through other federal loan programs, she said.
Eighty-five businesses were awarded grant funds through the WyCo Loves Local Grant for revenue loss or COVID-related expenses, she said. In all, 133 applications were received. Sixty-seven of the applicants had 25 or fewer employees.
Businesses receiving grant funds included Ms. R’s Café, $8,244; KADG Performng Arts, $5,000; Simmons Lawn Co., $8,715; Marquez Boots, $5,000; Jalisco Auto Sales, $10,000; gimMee Oils LLC, $5,000; Si se puede Auto Sales, $10,000; Excel Lighting and Sign, $10,000; Display Studios Inc., $10,000; Dr. Steven D. Pendleton DDS, $10,000; S&W Sports Enterprises LLC, doing business as Varsity Sports, $10,000; New West Presentations Inc., $10,000; Flores Ruiz Porraz LLC, $10,000; MK Hair & Nail, $10,000; Beautiful Outdoors, $20,000; Byrd’s Dance and Gymnastics, $10,000; Fireman Transport, $10,000; Kansas City Catering Inc., $10,000; Club 403 Enterprises LLC, $10,000; Ms. Lyndzs Dance and Acrobats, $10,000; MeMa’s Bakery, $10,000; Shree Madhava Management Inc., $10,000; El Taquito Tortilleria, $10,000; Club Sparks, $10,000; Karen’s Country Kitchen, $10,000; El Tenedor KC LLC, $10,000; Borberg Pizzeria Inc. doing business as Chiusano’s Brick Oven Pizzeria, $10,000; Gina’s Braiding Lounge, $10,000;
Beautiful Beginnings Early Childhood Education Center, $10,000;Voler Thieves of Flight $10,000; Rosie’s Dance Academy, $6,897; Kansas City Testing and Engineering, $20,000; Backstage Barbershop Inc., $10,000; Avenues Classics LLC, $10,000; Turner Dental Group, $10,000; Amazing Smiles of Kansas City LLC, $10,000; Wise Writers and Speakers, $10,000; ThermaRoll Leaf Inc., $10,000; KC Bowl Inc., $20,000; Free Parking LLC, $10,000; Ed’s Trophies and Awards, $10,000; Schultz Bros. Electric Co. Inc., $10,000; Evap Tech Inc., $20,000; Keyimpact Studios, $10,000; Cano’s Barbershop, $9,690; John’s Java and Jazz, $10,000; Infusion Designs, $10,000; HT’s Barber and Beauty Salon, $6,100; Seal of Fun Daycare, $8,000; Coreslab Structures Kansas Inc., $10,000; L&B Breit Inc., $10,000; Vada’s Little Lamb, $10,000; Rental City Inc., $10,000 Elevate Bar and Grill, $10,000; Sportsman Barbershop, $10,000; Colonial Club LLC, $10,000; The McLaughlin Law Firm, $2,100; LED Direct LLC, $10,000; Hydeman Company, $10,000; Avis Rental Car KC LLC, $10,000;
Quality Litho Inc., $5,000; Empire Candle Co LLC, $10,000; CAPO Group LLC doing business as Image 360, $10,000; My Design and Parts LLC, $10,000; Smallwood Lock Supply Inc., $1,925; D Rockey Holdings Inc. doing business as Eagle Products, $10,000; RampUp Labor LLC, $10,000; Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que Inc., $10,000; SureShow Inc., $5,000; Delaware Highlands Assistied Living LLC, $10,000; Gunter Construction Co., $10,000; Plastic Packaging Technologies LLC, $10,000; PMC Inc., doing business as KC Scaffold, $10,000; Best Harvest Bakeries, $10,000; Constable Inc., $5,000; KS Granite House LLC, $6,838; Missouri Door Co., $10,000; Design mechanical Inc., $10,000; Italian Delight of Kansas City Inc., $10,000; AirFixture LLC, $10,000; and Southern Care Daycare, $2,400.