NW Iowa News

The monetary amount of economic assistance grants has gone up, providing hundreds of approved businesses across Iowa relief during closures due to COVID-19.

The state’s Small Business Relief Program went up from $4 million to $24.1 million in a matter of four days.

Downtown Sioux City bar and restaurant, Rebos, was one local business approved for a $25,000 grant.

"Hopefully we can bounce back from this," Rebos Owner Jesus Sanchez told the Sioux City Journal. 

To be approved for a grant, a business must not only have pandemic-related disruptions in business but must have employed between two and 25 people before March 27. Businesses are receiving between $5,000 and $25,000 in grant money, which cannot be used to pay any debt incurred before March 17.

Osceola and O’Brien were among the eight counties with less than ten businesses receiving grants.

The Porch on Main in Osceola received $7,500; in O’Brien, Mae B received $8,000, Subway of Sheldon received $25,000 and Carl’s Footwear received $23,750.

More than 10 businesses are receiving grants in Dickinson County including Corner Lanes and Pub with a $25,000 grant and Little Sprouts Daycare with a $12,000 grant. In Clay County, Sneakers Sports Lounge will receive a $19,500 grant and The Spencer Squire Shoppe, a $10,000 grant.

“Most people, they're cutting down their orders, or canceling it, or changing the date, postponing,” Claudia Hessa, owner of Sugar Shack Bakery in Woodbury County, said according to the Sioux City Journal. “Any grant money we're just going to try to keep the business going, and I'd like to keep the employees that I have.”

Sugar Shack Bakery will receive a $25,000 grant.

Due to the shutdown, Rudy Navarrete’s Mexican Food in Riverside closed for approximately a month. In that time, owner Navarrete worked on cleaning, repairs and updates to the restaurant and received a $20,000 grant.

"Fortunately, I was kind of prepared," Navarrete said.