The village of Peoria Heights is distributing grants of up to $1500 each to help businesses make rent and mortgage payments.
Village Administrator Dustin Sutton said he expects up to 200 businesses to apply for the $330,000 available locally.
"We've tried to make this as simple as possible. We're accepting applications today. We look at a 10-day turnaround. As long as we verify their lease agreements and payments have been made, in approximately 10 days, you should have a check," Sutton said.
The application form is one page.
"We know our business owners. They're engaged in the community. They employ a lot of people. They generate a lot of income for Peoria Heights and make Peoria Heights a special place to live. So we want to do everything we can to assist those businesses," said Peoria Heights Mayor Mike Phelan.
Most Heights businesses in the Prospect and War Memorial corridors are eligible for the grants, which are sourced from business development district funds. Sutton said businesses on Galena Road aren't eligible because they don't pay into those funds, but he encouraged those business owners to reach out if they're in need of assistance.
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