Residents, businesses getting COVID-19 help
Kettering expects over $330K in grant funds through CARES Act.
Restaurants and other Kettering businesses impacted by COVID-19 and residents who lost housing because they were out of work can get help from the city.
Kettering expects in the next few weeks to get $334,921 in Community Development Block Grant funds through the CARES Act from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Nearly $60,000 of that money will be available for businesses affected by the coronavirus and $23,000 can go for residents needing counseling after falling victim to foreclosures and/or evictions due to COVID-19, according to the city.
Soon, businesses will be able to apply for funds to make mechanical equipment and structure improvements needed because of COVID-19, said Kettering Planning and Development Director Tom Robillard.
“If a business needs to improve their air conditioning and air han
dling equipment, our loan program can be used for that,” he said. “It will help air circulation in their space so that it circulates air faster and gets rid of any coronavirus-type” material.
The funds can also “assist businesses transform their business model to address COVID-related marketing scenarios,” Robillard added.
“Restaurants are greatly impacted by the coronavirus situation. And in the long term, they’re probably going to need to expand and make sure they’re able to (have) people more than six feet apart and doing all of the stuff they’re asked to do now,” he said.
“They may need more outdoor dining space or they may need to improve their web presence to do takeout and delivery or something like that that addresses their business model…..to help their business address the coronavirus situation,” Robillard added.
When the COVID-19 shutdown hit this spring, Kettering started the assistance program, providing 23 businesses a combined $115,000. The program recently won Ohio Conference of Community Development’s President’s Award for Innovative Practices, according to the city.
The funds the city spent on the program this spring will be reimbursed when it receives the money from HUD, Robillard said. Applications for the program’s second phase will be accepted in the next few weeks, he added.
Those seeking help due to foreclosure and/or eviction due to the coronavirus can contact the city now to receive counseling, Robillard said.
The city is hiring a housing counselor service to help residents and all communication between residents and counselor will be confidential.
The city is earmarking $60,000 for senior outreach to address those residents’ needs. More than 18% of Kettering residents are 65 and older, according to U.S. Census data.
Contact this contributing writer at nick.blizzard@ coxinc.com.