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Council approves $50,000 fund to help businesses hit by city construction, councilor recuses
Summary
The council authorized a city-funded $50,000 reserve to be administered by the Winchester Economic Development Authority to reimburse small businesses for documented losses when city construction blocks access; Councilor Sloane recused herself because of a disclosed property/business interest.
The Winchester City Council voted May 13 to establish a small-business assistance program for businesses affected by city construction and authorized the Winchester Economic Development Authority (EDA) to administer the fund subject to appropriation.
Under the approved resolution, the city will make $50,000 available from the contingency fund to help businesses demonstrate true losses related to city construction projects; eligible businesses may apply for assistance up to $10,000 per business. Staff said applications must document financial losses and that the EDA board will review and approve awards before funds are drawn from the city contingency allocation.
City staff described the program as modeled in part on a Maryland example and focused on projects that disrupt ingress or egress to a business for at least three total days during a project (not necessarily consecutive). “This is targeted to small business,” an EDA presenter said, noting the goal was to help businesses that could be threatened by construction impacts.
Councilor Sloane publicly disclosed a personal interest in property at 567 North Kent and a business named T Bone’s Bar and Grill, and recused herself from discussion and the vote. Several councilors supported the resolution as an initial program and urged staff and the EDA to review and tweak the program after the first year. Councilors also suggested future capital projects that have high potential to disrupt businesses might include a built-in contribution to this fund as projects are planned.
Why it matters: the program creates a formal, city-backed pathway for small businesses to recover documented losses tied to city construction projects. Council and staff signaled the $50,000 is an initial allocation from contingency and not an ongoing automatic appropriation; future funding would be evaluated in subsequent budget cycles.
The resolution passed after motion and second on the floor; the EDA and finance staff will manage the application and approval process and bring any recommended changes back to council for future funding decisions.
