The DuPage County Board on Tuesday approved a proposal that will provide $2.5 million in grants for DuPage County restaurants and bars that are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Board voted to set aside $2.5 million in federal dollars from the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act as part of the Reinvest DuPage small business relief grant program overseen by Choose DuPage.
“The restrictions imposed on restaurants and bars in DuPage County as a result of COVID-19 have devastated our restaurant and bar industry,” said Finance Committee Chairman Bob Larsen. “As they have struggled to regain their footing and keep their businesses afloat, the latest COVID-19 mitigation measures announced by the state this week will only strain them further.”
The proposal would also raise the revenue limit in the grant program aimed at restaurants and bars from $1.5 million to $4 million to expand eligibility. The program will be administered by Choose DuPage, DuPage County’s non-profit economic development partner. Information about the grant program is available on the Choose DuPage website at www.choosedupage.com.
As of Tuesday, DuPage County has provided 1,256 small businesses and contractors with $15.2 million in grant relief. Information about additional state business grant programs is also available at: www.choosedupage.com/dupage-business-resources-related-to-covid-19/.