The Evansville City Council Monday is scheduled to vote on whether to provide a half million dollars in funding for small businesses in two low income areas of the city to help defray expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a release distributed late Sunday, Evansville officials said they want to make the funding available to small businesses in two of the city’s neighborhood revitalization strategy areas. It’s part of an overall plan to provide $1.5 million in funding to help local businesses and social services agencies deal with the pandemic.
Funds can be used for projects related to deep cleaning, modification to interiors for social distancing and other equipment to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The businesses will have to show they’ve been directly affected by Indiana’s Stay at Home Order and can’t get other COVID-19 funding assistance. The money will be forgiven after five years if the business is still operating at the same location and employing low income residents.
A finance ordinance for changes allowing the funding is being presented to the Evansville City Council at its noon meeting Monday.
