Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Small Business Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Superior council simplifies small-business grant rules, raises maximum award to $20,000 and approves two grants
Summary
Council adopted revisions to the Small Business Grant Program to raise the maximum award to $20,000 (up to 50% of project costs), added a brick-and-mortar eligibility requirement, retained a three-year waiting period and approved $20,000 grants for Superior Ice Arena and Winter Street LLC.
The Superior Common Council on Jan. 20 adopted changes to the city’s Small Business Grant Program intended to simplify award calculations and concentrate funding on physical storefronts.
The Plan Commission recommended several amendments, including a simplified rule to fund up to 50% of a project with a maximum award of $20,000. Jason Serk and Amanda Granlund of the planning department brought the revisions forward and explained the new, simpler percentage structure. The council agreed the clearer approach should reduce administrative complexity.
During discussion Councilor Fennessey and others argued the program should be limited to brick-and-mortar businesses. Council adopted an amendment to add a fourth eligibility bullet specifying that award recipients must own, rent or lease a commercial storefront or other brick-and-mortar location where they conduct regular activity, excluding residential home-based addresses. "If a business or nonprofit does not own or control a storefront or other brick-and-mortar location, other than a home, it would not be eligible," the clerk recorded the attorney as advising.
Councilors also discussed the program’s three-year waiting period between awards to prevent a small group from repeatedly drawing funding; staff said the commission would revisit that period if application numbers remain low.
After adopting the amended policies, council approved a $20,000 grant for Superior Ice Arena (1015 Oaks Avenue) to replace doors and a $20,000 grant for Winter Street LLC (1615 Winter Street) to remove and replace a parking lot. Both awards were approved by voice votes.
