Douglas County restaurants, indoor venues could be fully reimbursed of December losses
Douglas County restaurant and indoor event venue owners could be reimbursed up to 100% of the total revenue lost throughout December.
Officials from Douglas County announced the expansion of its Restaurant and Indoor Event Venue Grant program that to date has allocated $15 million to assist local businesses.
The expansion of the program will compare the total revenue of restaurants and indoor event venues from December 2019 and compare it to this month’s total and reimburse the difference.
“Our businesses feel very supported by their county government from the small business grant that they launched several months ago, to the non-profit grant, to now this December restaurant grant, time after time they continue to support local businesses in Douglas County and that means a lot to us,” said Amy Sherman, the president and CEO of Northwest Douglas County Chamber and Economic Development Corporation.
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Currently, Douglas County is one of many counties that are in Level Red on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s COVID-19 dial, which prohibits restaurants from operating indoor dining.
Pam Riddler, the president and CEO of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce, says the expansion of the program will help those businesses greatly affected by the shut down that happened during the busiest time of the year.
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“We know that the holiday season is in many cases could be 40% of income for the year in some cases, because in a normal year people would be going out, celebrating with our staff’s and family members, and those restaurants do benefit from that,” Riddler said.
Previously, the grant awarded a maximum of $200,000 for businesses in lost revenue from March 1 through Nov. 30, but the expansion adds 100% of a businesses total revenue loss.
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The grant program is funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
County officials said businesses that previously applied for the Restaurant and Indoor Event Venue Grant will be awarded additional funds.
Restaurants and indoor event venues that are eligible for the program must apply before 8 a.m. on Dec. 30, as funds will be awarded on a first-come first-serve basis.
Grant applications will be evaluated on COVID-19 impact and revenue loss thats demonstrated through the application.
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