Adams County Development Council delivers grants to local businesses

OTHELLO — On Friday, May 15, the Adams County Development Council (ACDC) was able to deliver 22 grants of $1,500 each to Adams County businesses through the Adams County Small Business Emergency Grant. Adams County communities, businesses and individuals donated over $80,000 to assist small businesses affected by the COVID-19 closures.

“I am extremely pleased that we were able to reach our goal in such a short amount of time,” said Janis Rountree, ACDC’s manager in a press release on May 18. “It shows me that the community partners really value our small town way of living and that they recognize the value and importance of small businesses in our local communities.”

The ACDC has received more than 70 applications for assistance from small businesses with nine or fewer employees. Adams County has 443 small businesses in all.

“Two major types of businesses applying for the grant are salon owners and trucking companies. Salons experienced the hardest hit with the forced shutdown of their businesses,” Rountree said in the press release. “Also common are restaurants and health care businesses that had to modify their hours and methods of operations. We also saw some construction companies, small farms and retail operations.”

When the grant was originally established, the ACDC set a goal of raising $75,000 for 50 grants of $1,500 each. Sixteen entities and individuals stepped forward, donating over $81,000. Because of this generosity, 53 Adams County businesses will be able to get the help they need to survive the COVID-19 shutdown. As of Monday, May 18, $33,000 had been distributed.