Granite City mayor discusses grants with business owners

Granite City Mayor Mike Parkinson recently partnered with the Small Business Development Center at SIUE to go door to door canvasing local Granite City businesses to bring awareness to the Back2Business

Grants and announce the city’s upcoming small-business grants.

“I wanted a more aggressive approach to letting businesses know of the available funding to keep their doors open. Walking into businesses, talking directly to owners and explaining the city’s upcoming small-business grant program was a great way to make sure businesses knew how I want to help,” Parkinson said.

The Back2Business Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is expected to distribute $300 Million in economic relief to small businesses to help offset losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With funds from the American Rescue Plan, the city is near approval on its Small Business Grant Program. By the end of the year, I anticipate the city will have provided nearly $1 million in various grants to our local small businesses. I know this won’t make-up for all losses from this pandemic but I hope we can support our local businesses to get through this,” Parkinson said.

Visit the city website at www.granitecity.illinois.gov for information on the Back2Business Grant Program.

For more information, contact Cathy Hamilton, economic development director, via email at chamilton@granitecity.illinois.gov.

File photo: Mayor Mike Parkinson.