Aitkin County has concluded its Aitkin County CARES for Business Grant program with 81 grants awarded totaling $681,615.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, is the U.S. government’s $2.2 trillion package to help businesses, workers and a health care system staggered by the coronavirus.
Aitkin County’s Round One of CARES Grants concluded in October with 55 grants awarded and Round Two in November with an additional 26 grants awarded.
“Because so many of our local governments were able to come together and form a county-wide grant fund, we were able to award grants in 12 different communities and across six business sectors,” County Board Chairperson Bill Pratt stated in a news release.
The county provided $500,000 for the grants from their allotted CARES Act funds with other Aitkin County cities and townships providing the remaining $181,615 in CARES Act funds. The partnership resulted in 81 grants to 77 county businesses and four nonprofit organizations.
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“I was happy to see a cross section of businesses and areas through the county receive these grants,” Pratt stated.
The breakdown of grants by businesses and community is as follows: dining/lodging, 28; service providers, 29; entertainment venues, nine; retail/service, eight; manufacturing, five; and agriculture, two.
The breakdown of grants by communities is as follows: Aitkin, 35; McGregor, 18; Hill City, 11; Palisade, four; Wealthwood, three; McGrath, three; Malmo, two; and with Aitkin/McGregor, Glen, Tamarack, Bennetville and Jacobson one each.
