The Emergency Response Stimulus and Relief ordinance contains numerous measures in an attempt to combat the financial impact the virus is having on local businesses.
Under the ordinance a small business relief fund was created, which authorizes the Finance Director to designate $150,000 for the first found of applicants to their Small Business Relief Fund Program. The program is a partnership between the City of Paducah, West Kentucky Community and Technical College, and the Community Foundation of West Kentucky.
Small businesses that are not associated with a franchise, that have 25 or fewer employees, with a presence in Paducah, are able to apply for the funds. During the first round, the first 75 businesses will have the possibility of receiving a grant of $2,000 each. Applications will be collected from 8 a.m. on April 1 until 4:30 p.m. on April 10. Any business that is approved will be required to use the funds for rent, mortgage, payroll, and utilities. The application can be found at the link below.
The second round of funding will depend on the amount of donations the Community Foundation has received, which will be matched by the city up to $100,000. The Commission also requested that anyone with the ability to do so, should donate to the Community Foundation at the link below.
Commissioner Gerald Watkins shared his thoughts on the ordinance.
He said, "I think this is a great opportunity for the City of Paducah to step up and try to alleviate some of the suffering and financial hardships some of our people are having to go through."
The ordinance also postponed the Business License Tax to July 15, established a price reduction of 50 percent on solid waste collection fees, and waived the renewal requirements for taxicab licenses until July 1.
On the Net:
City of Paducah COVID-19 Relief InformationCommunity Relief Foundation
