Business relief program funding approved

The Wood County commissioners have authorized the use of up to $200,000 of federal CARES Act funds for a second round of the Wood County Small Business Relief Program.
The program will provide eligible small businesses with up to $5,000 to cover business interruption expenses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July, the commissioners approved the use of $250,000 with 17 applications received and 10 businesses receiving grants.
For round two, the program rules have been slightly modified to encourage more businesses to apply. Wade Gottschalk, director of the Wood County Office of Economic Development will administer the program.
Business owners can obtain applications from the office of economic development’s website at woodcountyedc.com. Applications will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. Nov. 9, through 4:30 p.m. Nov. 20, 2020.
To participate in the program, the business must have less than $1 million in gross annual revenue, have 30 or fewer employees, have experienced a decrease in gross revenue of 25 percent or more due to COVID-19, and have not received greater than $5,000 of federal assistance from the Payroll Protection Program or Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
All expenses must be related to the business interruption caused by COVID-19. Eligible expenses include: mortgage or rent/lease costs, utilities; salaries, wages and compensation paid to employees, materials and supplies related to interruption of the business caused by required closures; and personal protective equipment or other COVID-19 related costs such as expenses related to compliance with the Responsible Restart Ohio program.
To date, Wood County has received $6.7 million in federal CARES Act funding. This money is to be used to offset costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The commissioners have agreed to sub-grant funds to many eligible entities in the county, including the Wood County Committee on Aging and the Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board, Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Cocoon Shelter, Park District, Northwestern Water & Sewer District, as well as all offices and departments of county government.