Mattoon Chamber of Commerce Exec Director Updates Small Business Programs and Resources

Thursday, April 9, 2020, Ed Dowd, Executive Director of the Mattoon Chamber of Commerce was a guest on 101.3 WMCI. At the the bottom of the page you can listen to the entire interview. Here is a brief description of what he covered during the interview:

The CARES Act provides programs and initiatives to assist business owners with the impacts from COVID-19. To help small business owners and entrepreneurs better understand the programs, the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship has created a comprehensive guide.

Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program:

The program makes funds available to cover 60 days of verifiable working capital up to a grant ceiling of $25,000 and is available for businesses that employ 50 people or less. Applicants must:

Demonstrate an “Urgent Need” in relation to the COVID-19
Be a non-essential business
Employee 50 people or less, but have at least one employee who is not listed as the owner
Cannot be a not-for-profit

Funds are provided by the State of Illinois to the communities of Charleston, Mattoon, and Oakland. Funding is not made directly to a business by the State of Illinois This link contains information on what you will need to provide for the pre-screening. To comply with state public notice rules, applications are due April 15. Public notice will be issued April 22 and City Council review will occur May 5.

All our local banks are working with businesses on the Payroll Protection Program or PPP. Please contact your local banks or the Chamber for all the details.

Sarah Bush is still offering the COVID-19 24/7 hotline at 217-258-7474.

The Mattoon Rotary Club is offering a program to promote shopping local: