Micro-enterprise grants are still available!

UPDATE: Application period has been extended until the funds run out!!
MICROENTERPRISE GRANT APPLICATION ANNOUNCEMENT, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT Bayfield County has received$724,000 in Community Development Block Grant for COVID (CDBGCV) recovery assistance. Funds will be made available to low to moderate income businesses and individuals and the Northern Lights Services, Inc. in Washburn.The application period for Business Assistance Grants is June 1 2021 until funds run out.
Board Chair, Dennis Pocernich shared his hope “that these funds will assist those most severely impacted by the pandemic and help speed our region’s recovery.” Business Assistance is allotted $250,000 and $200,000 will go towards rental/mortgage and utility assistance. The remainder will to Northern Lights for Air Handler upgrades. All funds are made available through the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources Program. Funds come through the Community Development Block Grant Program. Bayfield County is working with Northwest Regional Planning to distribute funds.County Administrator Mark AbelesAllison shared that the county knows everyone is striving to return to normal and hopes these funds will help small businesses and individuals recover from the economic impact of the covid pandemic. Funds are grants with no payback required.
The Micro-enterprise Business Assistance program signup is from June 1 until funds run out and will accept requests for up to $10,000. Final funding will be based on the number of businesses applying. Businesses must have five or fewer employees, with business owner(s)qualifying as Low to Moderate income or have 51% of their employees qualify as Low to Moderate Income and have COVID related expenses or lost revenues since the outset of the pandemic.The rental/mortgage and utility assistance program will start the second week in June and will accept requests for up to $5,000 covering up to six months of payments. Applicants must be low to moderate income.
Northwest Regional Planning will prescreen applicants over the phone.Contact information is: For questions on the CDBGCV program and application, contact Shauna Lindstrom or Sheldon Johnson at the Northwest Regional Planning Commission at 7156352197. You can also go to www.bayfieldcounty.wi.gov/grants for contact information.
Vice Board Chair Fred Strand noted that these funds are coming as other state and federal funds will be made available. “Some businesses will qualify for assistance from multiple pots of funding,we encourage residents to seek assistance as needed”. The main rule is that a business or individual may only be reimbursed once for a particular COVID business expense, loss or revenue reduction.
Cole Rabska, Bayfield County Economic Development Director believes “this is one of many tools we can use to help return to normal. The COVID impacthas reached a broad range of businesses and a multifaceted approach is critical, this is one of those tools in our belt.”
Sheldon Johnson, Northwest Regional Planning Executive Director who will be overseeing the program noted that “there are very specific requirements of the CDBG program. Our goal is to help applicants navigate the process and receive needed funds as quick as possible. From start to finish Johnson anticipates a 6090day process before funds are released.