OFC was able to do a few socially distanced theater productions and camps over the summer but with the State’s rules, they’ve yet to be able to offer all the services and space rentals they were planning to. OCF applied for the grant that Monroe County is offering to try and help businesses hit hard by the pandemic but Johnson hasn’t heard back and now the facility is in a cluster zone.
“We've heard nothing on this grant, now things are starting to shut down, the orange zone is here and if we have to shut down completely again, we're gonna need more than that 15k and we don't even know about that. So, that's what is so frustrating, we've heard nothing on what we were expecting before the new rules,” he explained.
News10NBC Investigative Reporter Jennifer Lewke brought Johnson’s concerns straight to Monroe County Executive Adam Bello.
Lewke: "I'm wondering what the update is as far as when you'll have any determination on the businesses that are getting that help. And if, at this point, you will reconsider who you are choosing based on the Orange Zone closures?"
Bello: "There have been a number that have been approved and some funds have already been distributed."
Bello says so far, 431 businesses have been awarded $5.1 million. 1,500 more applications are currently still under review. There is a little less than $10 million left to hand out.
Lewke: "Do you anticipate upping the amount in that fund for businesses, particularly who are shut down?"
Bello: "Unfortunately, we are limited in the amount of CARES Act dollars that we received so we're not able to expand the program at this time… I am concerned, this is going to have a long-term economic impact on our community if we don't get additional support from Washington."
For Johnson, every little bit of help can be the difference in staying open.
“At the end of the day, the state is who is shutting down businesses right now and saying you can open, you can close or this is what you can do and this is what you can't, the state has to be responsible for that funding, if the federal government isn't going to come through with that, the state has got to find something to do for us in the meantime,” he said.
Bello says businesses will know by the end of the month if they’re getting the grant.
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Business owners waiting to hear about county grants - WHEC
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