Two Area Businesses Awarded State Grant Funds

The City of Effingham Convention & Visitors Bureau announced two area businesses have been awarded grant funds from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity.

• Holiday Inn
• Hampton Inn & Suites

The funds were granted to assist with working capital, such as payroll and rent, job training and technology to support shifts in operations including increased use of carryout and delivery for food businesses. On March 23, the State launched a $14.45M Hospitality Emergency Grant Program to support hotels and food and beverage small businesses in response to the pandemic shutdown. The hospitality industry in Illinois has seen significant revenue losses as the pandemic worsened and the Stay at Home Order was extended through April.

Over 12,000 hospitality small businesses applied for the funds, and over 700 were awarded grant funding. A lottery system was used to select award winners.

City Director of Tourism Jodi Thoele said, “These funds will help the businesses stay operational in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and help them recover quickly once the Order expires and citizens are allowed to frequent area businesses again.”