Local businesses awarded CARES grants

So far, 180 businesses in Grant County have received grants amounting up to $10,000 for economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Grant County’s Economic Development Council doled out the awards in three phases. 

Phase one awards totaled $438,000; phase two awards totaled $910,000, and phase three awards totaled $339,000 for a total of $1,687,000.

The money comes from $2.5 million set aside from the county’s $5 million total they received in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security (CARES) Act funds the county received.

Local businesses that received awards include: The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, Ridge Riders, Rivers Edge, American Legion Post 157, The Wine Guys, Quail Run Quilting Service, PKs Culinary, the Grand Coulee Dam Care & Share Food Bank, Coulee Internet Services, Banks Lake Brew & Bistro, Star Publishing, Michon Eagle, Tera Whitelaw, Loyal Order of Moose Grand Coulee Lodge 504, Hometown Pizza, Grand Coulee Investors, and Grand Coulee Fitness.

 Grant County EDC Director of Business Development and Communication Nic Thurston said that a fourth phase of grants is possible for non-profit organizations, since local governments became eligible to receive more CARES money, with Grant County eligible for almost $2 million more.

Okanogan County is also offering similar grants to its businesses and started round two of applications Oct. 5. For more information about the Okanogan County Cares Act Business Stabilization Grant visit: http://www.economic-alliance.com/grants/ .

Grand Coulee and Electric City are both eligible to receive roughly another $15,000 in CARES money, and councils in both cities have discussed using that money for small business grants in the near future, with Electric City having already awarded some businesses with grants with their first CARES allocation.

The money in all of these grant programs comes with the stipulation that it is used to cover costs attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.