Elkhart city council to propose small business grant

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. –The Elkhart City Council will introduce a small business grant program Monday that would potentially bring relief funding to small businesses in the city.

The new ordinance would allocate around $4000,000 from the American Rescue Plan, which was passed earlier this year by the Biden Administration, to the proposed small business grant.

“A lot of our businesses were hit pretty hard by COVID, and some are still struggling," said Elkhart First District Councilman, Aaron Mishler said. With the unfortunate rise of the delta variant, we're hoping to be able to give them a leg up should anything unfortunate happen in the coming months.”

On Monday, Aug. 16, Elkhart City Council will introduce a proposed small business grant. If approved, it would give businesses up to $25,000 in relief funding. Councilman Mishler said the ordinance would help a lot of business owners who are still struggling with a worker shortage and recovery efforts from the pandemic.

" Everything from supply issues to manpower, to folks just not going out to restaurants due to COVID. They’re still struggling from that, “Mishler said.

After the first reading on Monday, the ordinance can either go to a finance committee or be sent to the council for a second and final reading. Councilman Mishler said it's unknown what the qualifications would be--until the ordinance moves to the legislative process

David Lefler, the owner and operator of Elite Gutters in Elkhart said after this past year, he’s had problems finding employees and has even considered selling his business.

“I don’t have the employees to, you know, get the jobs done and complete it. So, I mean really, it would boil down to saving my business 100 percent,” Lefler said.

The City of Elkhart received over $18 million from the relief package and already approved funding for some infrastructure projects throughout the city.

If you have questions regarding the proposed small business grant. You can contact the council members in the City of Elkhart.