Gov. Tony Evers is dispersing $75 million to small businesses that have lost money after the coronavirus pandemic shut them down. Businesses would get grants of $2,500 each to help cover insurance, wages, and other costs. To fund the effort, Evers is relying on some of the nearly $2 billion in federal coronavirus aid he controls. The grants will be administered by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) as part of its “We’re All In” initiative. Much of the money will go to restaurants and retailers that have faced challenges because of the coronavirus, said Missy Hughes, the chief executive officer of the WEDC. The grants will be available to businesses with 20 or fewer employees that were affected by the pandemic and have not already received assistance from the economic development corporation. As many as 30,000 businesses could receive grants. Full details about the grants will be released in June, according to the governor’s office.
Rural Reporter