Avon Lake Small Business Grant Program Completed

02/19/2021 – On Monday, November 23, 2020, Avon Lake City Council authorized the use of $100,000 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds to establish the Avon Lake Covid-19 Small Business Relief Grant program. The City administered the grant program in partnership with the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce, which collected and evaluated the grant applications. Initially, eligible businesses had to have a principal place of business in an Avon Lake commercial space and between three and twenty employees. The maximum grant amount was $2,500 and could be used for payroll, rent payments, utility payments, and other qualified expenses. In January, Avon Lake City Council voted to amend the eligibility to allow for businesses with fewer than three employees. The grants became available on December 1, 2020, and the final grants were awarded on February 18, 2021. Here are the forty grantees:

3rd Base Bar & Grill
Avon Lake Barber Shop
Avon Lake Printing & Signs
Avon Lake Shoe Repair
Big M Pizza
Burn Boot Camp
Café Melissa
Catania Medallic
Close Quarters
Dogg House Bar & Grill
Duber Automotive
Element LABS
Elite Nails
Erie Nails
Fine Bella
Fratello's
Gitta's Table
Great Lakes Gymnastics
Ibiza
Jake's on the Lake
JESS Lake
JGD Associates, Inc.
Klosterman Associates
Lakeside Nutrition
Las Cazuelas
Miss Kristin's Dance Studio
Old School Pizza and Wings
Parker's Grille & Tavern
Personal Travel
Pizza Cutter
Premier Hardwood Floors
Reflection Room
Rico's Tacos & Tequila
Ridge Cleaners
Seeds of Wellness
Spevock's Nautical Lanes
Taki's Greek Kitchen
The Caslon
The Maker Space Studios
UR Décor & More

“The city of Avon Lake was very pleased to be able to help our small businesses during a time of economic crisis due to COVID-19,” said Mayor Greg Zilka. “We are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce as it was able to help us administer the grants in a timely manner. Chamber CEO Tony Gallo was able to review the applications to assure that each small business met eligibility requirements and the checks were distributed within a few days. Our residents appreciate our small businesses and the feedback was very positive.”

“The Lorain County Chamber felt it was our duty to help small business in Lorain County during the COVID-19 crisis and we were happy to partner with the City of Avon Lake for their grant program,” said Tony Gallo, President/CEO of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce. “The past 12 months has been devastating to so many of our local businesses and providing funding to businesses in need was a privilege and an honor.”