Joliet approves $85,518.79 in business-continuity grants for downtown businesses affected by Chicago Street construction

The Joliet City Council on March 31 voted to award two business-continuity grants totaling $85,518.79 to downtown businesses affected by Chicago Street construction.

City officials said the program is intended to offset revenue losses from the downtown construction. Paulina, economic development director, told the council that applicants must have annual revenues under $2,500,000 and submit ST-1 sales-tax forms so staff can compare 2024 sales to 2023 sales to document losses. "They have to have less than $2,500,000 in revenue per year, and they were required to submit their ST-1 forms," Paulina said during the council discussion.

The program was created by a prior council resolution (Resolution 8095) and was administered in two tiers: the city manager had authority to approve awards under $25,000; applications with higher eligible amounts were brought to the full council. Committee materials reviewed by the council listed six approved awards for amounts under $25,000 and two larger applicants whose total eligible amounts exceeded $25,000 (Cut 158, total eligible $77,770.84; Juliet's Tavern, total eligible $57,747.95). The city manager preapproved $25,000 for each of those applicants, leaving $52,770.84 and $32,747.95, respectively, for council consideration.

Council members asked staff to explain program rules and selection. Paulina said staff compared businesses' submitted ST-1 forms and the city's records to calculate a drop in taxable sales. She also told the council the project area included 16 businesses that met the program's eligibility criteria and that eight businesses applied for the assistance.

Some council members voiced concern about geographic fairness. Councilman Hugg said he opposed the program, arguing it addressed only a “very, very small area” of the city while other corridors, including Plainfield Road, had been heavily disrupted by construction in recent years. "I didn't support it to begin with, and I still won't support it," Hugg said. Other council members noted that businesses in the downtown project have generated revenue for the city and that the grant returns only a portion of that tax revenue in recognition of the disruption.

Council discussion identified a local business owner, Bill Dimitriolos, who operates multiple downtown restaurants and therefore accounts for a substantial share of the program's total payout because he submitted multiple eligible applications. Paulina confirmed that multi-location ownership increases the total amount paid to one owner when each location qualifies.

The motion to approve Council Memo 235-Dash-25 (award two business-continuity grants for a total of $85,518.79) passed on a roll call vote: one no (Councilman Hugg) and seven ayes (Councilwoman Abara; Councilman Mudrin; Councilwoman Quillman; Councilman Cardenas; Councilman Clement; Councilman Guerrero; Mayor Terry Darcy). The council’s approval carried the amount recommended by staff.

The council directed staff to continue outreach and respond to requests from other business areas asking for similar consideration; council members asked staff to examine whether programs could be expanded or replicated in other construction-impacted corridors.

Votes at the meeting also included routine consent items that funded equipment purchases and professional services for public safety and public utilities, and several ordinances and resolutions (see "Votes at a glance").

The grants are intended to address documented 2024 revenue shortfalls tied to the downtown project; staff said the program compares 2024 to 2023 sales to calculate eligible awards. The council did not change program eligibility at the meeting.