The City of Manitowoc, in partnership with Manitowoc Public Utilities, the City of Two Rivers, the Chamber of Manitowoc County along with Investors Community Bank and Bank First, have partnered to make available up to a $5,000 grant to small businesses to help pay rent, mortgage, lease and utilities during this COVID-19 Pandemic.
Mayor Justin Nickels says the money is based on the total of three months of these combined payments. He told SeehaferNews.com, “There’s a lot of federal and state relief out there, but we as a local community wanted to make sure we were also doing our part to ensure these small businesses can continue.”
Nickels said the program went through several different looks before it came to be, saying “We were looking at a potential loan program at first instead of a grant. We wanted to make sure they were involved and knew we weren’t trying to compete with them, but then they bought into this idea to help small businesses during this time.”
Mayor Nickels said he was “dumbfounded” when the establishments said they would each give $50,000 to the cause. “I was never expecting that high of an amount,” the Mayor said. “But they were very thankful that the City was stepping forward to be a very large financial partner to help these small businesses.”
Dollars awarded are not required to be paid back. All businesses that qualify may apply beginning Tuesday, June 2nd at 9 a.m. and are not required to be a Chamber member to be eligible.
For more information log onto the City of Manitowoc’s website.