The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday morning announced that 192 small businesses in New Hanover County are receiving grants from a fund of more than $4 million.
The businesses are in the hospitality, retail and service sector, and the one-time grants are meant to offset the $65 million in lost revenue caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the local and state restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the virus.
The program awarded grants of $10,000 for businesses with two to 10 employees, $25,000 for 11 to 25 employees and $50,000 for 26 employees or more.
Slice of Life owner Ray Worrell said the grants, which will be used for payroll, will be a welcome influx of funds. All four of his Slice of Life locations received grants, he said.
"It's still a weird thing – ever since COVID, we've never run the right way like we did for 18 years," Worrell said. "It's like somebody came an put sand in our oil pan; the car's just not running the way it's supposed to."
Worrell's biggest problem continues to be having enough employees to staff his pizza restaurants, even after raising wages so that some workers who were making $8 an hour now make $13 an hour.
"We have plenty of business, but we have no way of servicing that business," he said. "It's always a struggle in the spring to get employees because some of them will go to the beach restaurants for $2 more, not knowing come probably November, they're going to be laid off."
In the meantime, all restaurant expenses have increased, Worrell said.
"Chicken wings are a great example," he said. "We used to pay $1.55 a pound for chicken wings; now it's $3.61."
Still, when it comes to the grant money, "That helps us out for sure," Worrell said. "It keeps us going."
According to a news release from the chamber, grant awardees represent as many as 3,700 local employees. Around 650 businesses applied, and 192 businesses met all qualifications for the grant.
New Hanover County will be funding 106 companies with $2.3 million, and the city of Wilmington will be funding 86 companies with $1.9 million, the release stated.
"Our small businesses have suffered during the pandemic and need help to recover,” said New Hanover County Commissioners Chair Julia Olson-Boseman in the release. “New Hanover County and the city of Wilmington are placing an emphasis on helping local business owners with cash they need to provide jobs and jumpstart our economy.
The funds can only be used for payroll to hire and rehire employees or for additional expenditures related to the business complying with state and local orders to be COVID-19 compliant. They can't be used for rent, utilities or expenditures related to normal business operations outside of payroll.
Qualifying businesses had to be independent, locally owned and physically located in New Hanover County. They also had to be in operation for six months prior to March 2020.
"This is now the second time New Hanover County has appropriated federal relief dollars to provide a lifeline to our local businesses after we committed $1.3 million in CARES Act funds last year for small businesses," Olson-Boseman said. "I appreciate the city’s partnership, which made this assistance program go so much farther, and I appreciate the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce stepping up to administer the program."
Of the 192 grant awardees, 136 are businesses owned by minorities, women or veterans.
“Wilmington small business owners and their employees are vital to Wilmington’s economy and have endured enormous challenges over the course of the pandemic," said Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo in the release. "With the assistance of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, we are quickly and equitably putting millions back into the hands of local small businesses to support a broad-based economic recovery.”
Wilmington Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Natalie English said, “We know our hospitality, retail, and service-based businesses are a critical component of our local economy. New Hanover County will be stronger for this important grant investment that will save and create new jobs.”
The recipients are:
128 South Events & Catering
A Space to Call Home
Advanced Application Design Inc.
Advanced Maintenance
After School Karate Academy
Airlie Homes
AMG Motor Sports
Andrew Consulting Engineers PC
Apple Annie's Bake Shop
Appliance Service Company
Aqua Fedora
AR Workshop
Archer's Appliance Repair LLC
Art in Bloom Gallery
ATB AUTO'S, LLC
Atlantic Computer Services
Aunt Kerry's Pet Stop
Barnes Family Dentistry
BAU Print and Mail Inc.
Best Rentals
Beth Bullard
Bike Cycles
Black Sea Grill
Blockade Runner Beach Resort
Blue Roll
BlueTone Media
Boathouse Restaurant
Boseman's Sporting Goods Inc.
Breadsmith
BRIDGES
Brooklyn Arts Center
Broomtail Craft Brewery
Bryant Real Estate
Cape Fear Boil Company
Cape Fear Coach Lines, Seacoast Trolley
Cape Fear Smiles
Carolina Candy Company
Carolina Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery
Catch Restaurant
Ceviche's
Checkers
Children's Cottage of Wilmington
Chrystal Fray State Farm
Circa 1922
Citrus Cans
Clothes Mentor
Coastal Accounting
Coastal Golfaway
Coastal Massage & Spa
Comfort Inn University
Complete Renovation Solutions LLC
Cousins Italian Deli
Crossfire Paintball
Crown Hotel and Travel Management, LLC
CryoCove
D Thomas Roofing Co Inc
Dance Exchange Inc
Dance Express Performing Arts Studio
Daniels Tours
Dockside Restaurant
Dogwood Architecture
Double Happiness Restaurant (two locations)
Down Island Traders
Dr. Coleman Burgess
Drift Coffee & Kitchen
Duck and Dive
Ebbing Branding + Design
Elizabeth Pizza Inc
Five Star Cleaning Service Inc
Flying Machine Brewing Company
Flytrap Brewing
Fudgeboat
Geo Owl LLC
Goodfellas Nitelife
Graphic Image Printing
Gymnastics Unlimited
Hampton Inn Medical Park Hotel
Hanover Coatings Inc
Havana's Restaurant
Helen Tarokic Law PLLC
Hey Beer Bottle Shop
High Performance Lighting & Power, Inc
High Tide Canvas and Upholstery
Hill & Klutch Studio
Hurricane Alleys
Ibiza Nightclub
Indochine Restaurant
Inner Solutions Counseling Center, PLLC
Innovations of Hope
Isaac’s Clothing Store
Islands Fresh Mex Grill
J. Michael's Philly Deli
Java Dog Coffee House
Jenkins Preschool Academy LLC
Jerry Allen’s Sports Bar and Grill
Jester's Cafe
Joe's Oasis
Junction 421
Just Cut It Barbershop
Kale Me Crazy
Kendall's Hallmark (two locations)
KGAB Inc.
Little Asia Bistro
Lula's Pub
Matt Skelly Training
MEOW Investments
Michael's on the Waterfront
MICI Inc dba Park Select
Might as Well
Mirror Image Barber and Styling
Modern Legend
Moe's Southwest Grill
Moving It Forward
Nails Amour
New Hanover Printing & Publishing
NNR Hospitality
Nori Asian Fusion and Sushi Bar
Nurses Choice
Old Books on Front
Once Upon a Child
Panacea Brewing Company
Patient Centered Care PLLC
Patriot Roofing Company LLC
Paul Vision Institute
Perry's Emporium Inc.
Physical Therapy for Women Inc
Pizzeria IL Forno
Plato's Closet
Port City Brew Bus
Port City Java
Pour Taproom
Pravda KGB
Protocol
Re-eco Design
RIGI Inc
Ripxfit Fitness Studio
Rosalie's Trattoria
Rountree Losee LLP
Salt Water Real Estate
Saltwater Salvage Designs
Sapos Cleaning
Savorez
Scooter's Family Skating Center
Seacoast Systems Inc.
Seagate Direct
Seagate Hair Studio
Seagrass Salon & Day Spa
SeaWitch
Service. Auto repair
Seven Mile Post Pub
Shannon Agee
Signarama
Slice of Life (four locations)
Splash & Dash Coin Laundry
Stemmerman's Inn
T and D Custom Fences and Deck LLC
Tanglez Salon & Spa
Terra Sol Sanctuary
TF Fitness and Nutrition
The Brewer's Kettle
The Copper Penny
The Fairy Circle LLC
The George on the Riverwalk
The Greeks
The Harp
The Hemp Farmacy
The Ivy Cottage
The Mailbox Store
The Second Glass LLC
The Veggie Wagon (three locations)
The Verandas
Thrill of the Hunt Ltd
Tideline Surfaces
Tinyz Tavern
Tire Repair and Sales
Total Comfort Services Inc.
True Rest Float Spa
TW Lewis Electric Inc.
Which Wich Mayfaire
Which Wich Pointe
Whitley Coleman PLLC
Wilmington Bilingual Preschool
Wilmington Brewing Company
Wilmington Mental Health
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