By: Rebecca Miller
As the past ten months have been very hard on locally owned businesses, the county and village leadership have stepped up to help them in a variety of ways. As the Federal government poured COVID Funds into the states, Ohio passed it on to the counties and Williams and Fulton Counties took in dozens of applications for assistance from local companies.
The Williams County Commissioners shared at the November 19, 2020 session, that “Small Business Grant Agreements were awarded for: Pete’s Posey Patch (W.U.) $2868.01; Village Reporter (Montpelier) $5000; Testament Tatoo (Bryan) $5000; Ajavs, LLC $5000; Nail’d It Salon $3233.51; Kora Brew House and Wine Bar $5000; Howard J. Aube DDS, Inc. $4141.69; Inspiring Hope Counseling $4345.06; Doug’s Performance and Repair $2157.75; A Cut Above $5000; Nettie’s Stop and Shop $5000; Soles Racing LLC/Soles Motorsports $5000; Pioneer Custom Coatings, LLC $5000; Northwestern Ohio Drivers Training School, Inc. $2040; Hillman Walk-In Chiropractic $1693.64; Bryan Theater $5000; Kommon Kravings $5000; and Fountain City Fitness $5000.” Not everyone who applied qualified for the loan, but all were given a fair shot, with these listed businesses receiving COVID funds.
Director of Marketing and Communications for Fulton County, Lauren Lester, who developed, processed and is tracking the program said, “The Commissioners’ Fulton County Small Business Relief Program, that was released in September, received 109 applications, with 5 not qualifying.
Three had not been in business as of 1/1/19, one was not locally owned and one made over $1 million in sales. This left us with 104 potential applications. I say potential because 10 have yet to provide all application information. We have written checks so far for $869,562.04. If the last 10 provide their final information by December 11th the amount awarded might look like $1,014,123.72.”
In an attempt to find out how the Villages and Cities have been helping the local businesses, a survey was sent out asking the following questions: 1. How many locally owned businesses do you have in your community? 2. Is the village doing anything specific to help them during this “unprecedented time”? 3. If you are considering any ways to assist them, would you share your creative ideas so that others may be encouraged and benefit as well from your brainstorming? And 4. What is a word of encouragement you would give to small businesses during this time?
Out of the fourteen villages who received the survey, seven responded and we share those responses here with you the reader. From Williams County two villages and one city responded. West Unity Mayor Don Leu responded, “#1 We have approximately 30 locally owned businesses in West Unity. #2
We gave out $2000 grants for those who applied, with 9 out of 11 qualifying. #3 We are trying to promote purchasing items locally. We’re doing different activities around town trying to bring people to visit our stores. #4 West Unity village does care about small businesses and will support you in any way that we can. Better times are coming. We’re all in this together and we will endeavor to help all businesses of West Unity to succeed.”
Bryan Mayor Carrie Schlade explained that the City of Bryan’s fund money was tied in with the county’s money, by choice. The city was going to try to figure out how to do it as city grants (as West Unity did), but it seemed better to go through the commissioners with the county allocated money.
Most businesses in Bryan are locally owned, Schlade said in a phone interview. “We did offer Revolving Loan Funds to qualifying businesses. We also temporarily froze payments due to the RLF fund, as allowed by state guidelines,” she added.
Schlade continued, “The City has been fiscally prudent with budgeting, trying to guide businesses to sources of aid/assistance wherever possible – federal, regional, local levels. With regard to BMU- For a period of time there were no shut offs or late fees. (Those have currently resumed.)
Bryan City Council has passed legislation to provide a Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area starting January 1, 2021 to help the businesses on the square. Now we just have to get used to going in and out of our businesses and giving them our patronage. Our small businesses are huge assets to the Bryan Community.
They are likely among the first to sponsor arts or sports activities, Christmas donation activities, etc. Please continue to patronize our small businesses. They have given so much to our community and it’s our time to support them.”
From Stryker, Mayor Joe Beck answered that there are 21 local businesses in town: Subway, Main Stop –gas station, SW Hardware, SW Welding, Robert Chrismer Accounting, Kathy Ingram-Integrity Accounting, Dustin Tilley- DK Exteriors, Brett Froelich- Froelich & Sons, Mel’s – Sport Shop, P & R Welding, Dollar General, Sole’s Motor Sports, Original Cut, A Cut Above, S & R Truck Lines., OTP, Stryker Steel, Jagger Cone, Door Works, Stryker Elevator, Woolace & Johnson- Plumbing & Heating, Stryker Storage Units, Dalton, Sauder’s, and Dollar General (which is not technically locally owned but is a great local employer).
The village let all the businesses know that the county RLF program administered by WEDCO offers available funds so that if a business has suffered reduced hours or loss due to the Covid Pandemic there is an application process for a $5,000 grant. “We encourage our employees and residents to shop locally and, as a Village, we shop locally as much as possible,” Beck said in his response, “for example we purchased gift certificates to use as prizes for our Christmas Decorating Contest. Stryker is a small caring community who helps each other out in time of need. He encourages Stryker residents to continue checking In on your neighbors and “Shop Local.”
From Fulton County, three villages and one city responded. Metamora Mayor Richard Sauerlender shared that their village is small and only has six small businesses plus the Post Office, Library and Bank. The village has given free masks and sanitizers to a few of the businesses, but the biggest thing they have done to help the village during this time is to make substantial donations to CAST, the local food pantry. They also encourage the wearing of masks and avoiding contact outside of households as much as possible.
Mayor of Swanton, Neil Toeppe, answered that they have over 100 small businesses as Swanton covers a large area, just south of Toledo. “The small businesses, especially retail shops, are working together to both cross-promote and organize community events to draw residents into their shops,” he said, adding, “I would encourage small businesses to work together as noted above and to make sure they are following all of the COVID-19 protocols so their businesses can remain open.”
Donna Dettling, the Village Administrator of Archbold replied that Fulton County processed the Small Business Assistance Program for small businesses in Fulton County, which included Archbold. Because the development, processing and tracking of the Program required extensive labor; the village was not in a position to develop a program of their own. They are encouraging people to shop locally and help the small businesses stay afloat during this time.
Lyons Mayor Andrea Gleckler responded that there are nine businesses in their village. “We completed a survey from the County in the beginning of COVID,” Gleckler shared, “to see what the needs were for small businesses. Two of our Businesses have received help with payroll and utilities through the Cares Act.
We are trying to keep restaurants going through carry out food and we try to keep good communication with business owners to help meet needs. We also keep encouraging the owners, and each Business has volunteered to decorate a Christmas tree at our Veterans Park. We have also given funds to out Fire Dept for updates and improvements, due to COVID guidelines.”
The overall feeling in the towns of these two counties in Northwest Ohio, is to stay safe from Covid and take care of each other in the best way possible. For some that is seen on Facebook as individuals encourage everyone to shop locally and reach out to your neighbors during this Christmas season.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
