OGDEN, Utah – More than 250 Ogden companies and nonprofits have received grants through the Ogden CARES program.
More than $ 11 million has been spent, with grants ranging from $ 1,400 to $ 300,000, according to Sara Meess, director of business development at Ogden City.
“We wish we could have reached more companies, but only with the funds we had through the city, and in partnership with some funds from Weber County, we felt we were really bringing that money to the US could community, ”she said.
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The CARES money helped pay staff and open the doors at the Grounds for Coffee on Harrison Blvd., the owner said.
“We probably couldn’t have gotten through without that, honestly,” said Suzy Dailey.
It’s been a tough year, but it has helped the business spin and do takeaway only, Dailey said. With the vaccine, they hope that they will be able to reopen their dining room when their employees are protected.
“That has been our question since March, you know when will it be over? How do we know what is appropriate for a reopening? “Said Dailey.
The scholarship also helped many nonprofits such as the United Way of Northern Utah. The pandemic has brought many additional challenges, said the organization’s president and CEO Tim Jackson.
“Part of the reality when there is an economic downturn is demand increases, and nonprofits, which are already often on tight budgets, have to do more with less,” he said.
The CARES money allowed the nonprofits not only to stay occupied, but also to help many people in the community, Jackson said.
“If we didn’t have these additional resources during the pandemic, many more families would fall through the cracks who are able to make a living instead. You can go forward and have hope, ”he said.
Unfortunately, a handful of businesses couldn’t survive the pandemic, but now the city is working to get the rest of the small businesses across the finish line, Meess said.
“We saw some kind of mix. There are definitely some companies that have stabilized as things go back to normal and there are others that are still really feeling those effects, ”she said.
For more information on PPP loans and business support in Utah, please visit here.
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