La Salle, Peru announce program funding to support local businesses

Business owners in La Salle and Peru will have the opportunity to receive additional financial relief through funding and city-run programs.

The city of Peru announced Monday the city was awarded $320,152 in funding from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to award to local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peru Mayor Scott Harl said via a Facebook post the grant is intended to provide financial resources to local businesses who have suffered losses directly related to the public health emergency. The program is anticipated to have $400,000 in available funding.

Later in the day during La Salle’s City Council meeting, Director of Economic Development Leah Inman announced the city received $298,819 in funding from the Local Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency and Economic Support Program.

The funds will be awarded through the La Salle Economic Support Program to La Salle businesses that meet certain criteria; awarding up to $5,000 per business.

“These funds act as a great holiday gift to all of us as we are near the end of what’s been a rough year,” Inman said. “I hope this new opportunity is well utilized by our business community and I look forward to assisting the businesses however I can to claim their funds.”

Eligibility requirements, additional information and the two cities application processes are listed below:

Peru 

The city will expect businesses to comply with all local, state and federal reporting requirements to receive funds. Each business will need to provide the following as part of their initial submission:

Narrative explaining the COVID-19 impact

Completed application

Monthly ST-1 Sales and Use Tax forms from 2019 and 2020

Certificate of Good Standing with the Illinois Secretary of State

Copy of driver’s license or valid government ID of the business owner or owners

The final submittal if the application is being considered for funding will need to include the following additional documents:

Local CURES-ES Grant Program state of Illinois document

Certification and requirements document

Conflict of Interest DECO document

The application can be completed online, mailed or dropped through the City Hall drive-thru window. The deadline for the initial application will be noon Monday, Dec. 28.

Funding will be awarded throughout the application window and once funds are exhausted the program will terminate. Visit here for more information on ineligible businesses and losses.

La Salle:

The city's eligibility requirements, required documentation and complete details can be found by visiting the City of Lasalle's website and clicking on the LESP link, by calling Inman or emailing L.inman@lasalle-il.gov.

Qualified reimbursable expenses include PPE equipment, safety improvements, marketing, website or telework upgrades, rent and utility assistance for businesses and landlords, expenses to increase outdoor seating capacities and payroll reimbursement for businesses open on Sundays.

Applications opened as of Monday, Dec. 14, and will remain open until 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 28.

The preferred method of submission is online here, but applications can also be delivered in-person at City Hall, 745 Second St.

Business owners needing assistance in submitting for funding are encouraged to attend a video conference call and screen sharing session. It will be 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 21.

To join the call click here, or call-in 312-535-8110, enter meeting number 126-886-0682 and then enter the password lasalle (5272553).

Applications will be reviewed by members of the Economic Development Committee the week of Dec. 28 and payments to businesses can be expected the week of Jan. 4.

Should additional funding become available from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or funding remains in the local LESP program, a second round of applications will be accepted in January 2021.