City of Peru City Council met May 26.
Here is the minutes provided by the council:
Pursuant to legal notice published in the News Tribune in the manner provided by law, the City Council of the City of Peru convened for a Public Hearing at 6:45 p.m. in the City Municipal Building, 1901 Fourth Street, Peru, IL, to provide the public with an opportunity to express their views on the proposed City application for a Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program grant funded by Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
Mayor Scott Harl, Alderman Tony Ferrari, Alderman Jim Lukosus, Alderman Mike Radtke, Alderman Tony Sapienza, Alderman Tom Payton, Alderman Jeff Ballard, and Alderman Aaron Buffo were in attendance. Alderman Dave Waldorf was absent. A live video stream of the Public Hearing was made available online to the public.
City of Peru Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert provided a summary of the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program, stating:
- The Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program has $20,000,000 available. The grants will be awarded until the money runs out.
- The program provides 60 days of verifiable working capital up to a grant ceiling of $25,000.
- A business must employ 50 people or fewer (that can include the business owner).
- The program is to assist private, for-profit, small retail and service businesses or non-essential businesses (per the Governor’s Executive Order) without the ability for working remotely.
- Projects must demonstrate an urgent need for funding due to the COVID-19 emergency and must show a solid commitment to retaining permanent jobs.
- The funding must be used for working capital expenses (for example, employee salaries, general operating expenses, inventory, and advertising/marketing expenses).
- Businesses involved in medical and/or recreational cannabis are not eligible to apply.
- Costs incurred prior to the date of grant award are not reimbursable.
- A grant agreement will be issued for a contract period of twelve months. All grants must have met the National Objective of retaining permanent jobs primarily benefiting low-to-moderate income persons by the end of the twelve-month grant term.
- If circumstances beyond a grantee’s control are apparent and impact the project, a grantee may apply for a single six-month extension.
- If the National Objective is not met by the benefiting business, then the grantee (unit of local government) will be required to repay the entire amount of the grant to the State. The benefiting business will be required to repay the entire amount of the grant to the unit of local government per the enforcement of the Participation Agreement signed by the business and government body.
Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert explained that the City is considering an application for a grant on behalf of Salon Patrice, 1525 Peoria Street, Peru. The City Council was provided with copies of the City’s application on behalf of Salon Patrice. Attorney Schweickert stated that the total amount of grant funds being requested on behalf of Salon Patrice is $15,280.00, and that the public can obtain copies of the application from the City Clerk’s office.
Corporate Counsel Scott Schweickert explained that only $20,000,000.00 of funds is available under the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program. Any awarded grants are administered by the City to the business for working capital pursuant to a Participation Agreement with the business. Grant funds awarded through this program will support City businesses, such as Salon Patrice, which have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 emergency and the Governor’s Executive “Stay at Home” Order and will help them remain open or reopen and retain or re-employ permanent jobs after the COVID-19 emergency is over. The City has the right to claw back grant funds from the business if it fails to observe or perform any covenant or agreement contained the Participation Agreement. The City is required to submit a 6-month report and close-out report with respect to the disbursed funds.
Patrice Nimee was in attendance at the Public Hearing remotely on behalf of the Salon Patrice and thanked the City for its assistance with the grant application.
A call for public comment was made. Hearing none, the Public Hearing was concluded at 6:38 p.m.
https://www.peru.il.us/city-government/minutes/regular-council-meeting/2020-rm/may-2020-cm/4917-public-meeting-minutes-05-26-20/file
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