Board of Control OKs $200K for Youngstown Businesses
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The city’s Board of Control approved $200,000 in grants to small businesses at its meeting Thursday.
Grants ranging from $2,500 to $15,000 were awarded to 20 businesses through the Small Business Boost Project. City Council approved appropriating $200,000 for the program in April.
The need for such a program was identified as the city assisted businesses through a microenterprise program funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security – or Cares – Act through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Many businesses were ineligible for assistance by the fund because of restrictions governing the federal funds, according to Carmella Williams, microenterprise grant program director.
The grant program is different from the $200,000 fund the city established last month to assist downtown businesses following the May 28 natural gas explosion at the Realty Tower.
Grants of $15,000 each were awarded to Build Your Own Breakfast LLC, Unpainted Arizona LLC, YoGo Bikeshares LLC, DOPE Brands LLC, Savannah Joe’s LLC and McRoyal Industries LLC.
Grants of $12,000 each were made to Full Faith Moving Services LLC and Jaxstubbs LLC.
An $11,000 grant was made to HH Brothers Enterprises LLC; a $10,000 grant went to Kickdrum Entertainment LLC; and $9,000 was given to Avalon Downtown.
The remaining funds were awarded to Centro Tre LLC, ATAP Records LLC, Santa Rosa LLC, Noble Creature Cask House and Bistro 1907 LLC ($7,500 each); Coze Coffee Bar LLC ($6,000); Yo! Crash LLC and DDVE Holdings LLC ($5,000 each); and G’s Chop Shop ($2,500).
Market Street Corridor Project
In other business, the board approved entering into a professional services agreement with Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation to administer the $150,000 Market Street Corridor project. Funded out of the $2 million in American Rescue Plans allocated to the 6th Ward, the initiative will improve at least 10 properties along Market Street in the ward.
“We do have most of the work programmed out, but it’s not all finalized. It’ll begin pretty quick, though, once the agreement is signed,” said Ian Beniston, YNDC’s executive director.
Most of the work will be between Dewey Avenue to the north and Midlothian Boulevard to the south, Beniston said. It will include working with existing businesses to address issues such as awnings and signage, removal of dead trees and replacement of benches, cleanup of vacant lots and other “generally simple enhancements to the corridor to spruce it up a bit,” he said.
Pictured at top: Savannah Joe’s, 2905 Glenwood Ave., was awarded a $15,000 grant through the Small Business Boost Project.
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