SOUTH SHORE — Ten South Shore businesses soon could receive a stimulus grant funded by the local taxing district.
Special Service Area #42 commissioners voted Wednesday to approve a one-time, $3,000 grant for businesses to cover operating expenses such as payroll, rent or mortgage payments, utilities and vendor fees.
The commissioners also approved the creation of a grocery delivery service.
The grant application opens May 13 on the SSA’s website. All applications must be submitted by May 22.
To be eligible for the grant, businesses must operate from a retail or office space within the SSA’s boundaries, which are:
- 71st Street from Kimbark Avenue to South Shore Drive.
- Stony Island Avenue from 67th Street to 73rd Street on the east side.
- Stony Island Avenue from 67th Street to 79th Street on the west side.
Non-essential businesses are eligible, but franchises and businesses with more than two locations are not. Grant winners must agree to attend “business development training.”
Ten grant winners, chosen through a lottery of eligible businesses, will be notified by May 29. The South Shore Chamber will issue $3,000 checks by June 5.
Beyond the $30,000 in grant funding, the SSA will spend up to $5,000 “in additional support such as print marketing and advertising.”
Commissioners also approved a four-week, no-contact grocery delivery service for elderly and at-risk South Shore residents. Residents at six pre-arranged locations will receive free deliveries of up to $40 in groceries from the Local Market, 2101 E. 71st St.
The program will begin May 12 and run every Tuesday through June 2.
The SSA will provide approximately $18,800 for groceries and a delivery service, while Verizon will co-sponsor with a contribution of more than $15,000, according to commissioner Amena Karim.
Employees from sections of the Local Market that are unable to operate through the pandemic, like the hot food bar, will be enlisted to deliver the food.
The projects will use about $53,800 of the $108,142 available for the SSA’s stimulus plans. Of the available funding, $80,000 came from commissioners’ decision in March to cancel the 2020 South Shore Summer Fest.
The SSA will hold a budget meeting May 23 at 9 a.m.
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