Page 2 - CEP newsletter 3 2020 FINAL 082620

Small Businesses Thankful for Emergency Grant

The CEP has surveyed the 24 small a few extra.”
businesses granted in May a total of • “Somewhat – ticking up slowly.”
$54,265.15 through the COVID-19 Most of the businesses reported bringing
Champaign County Small Business all employees back to work, while some
Emergency Grant Fund.
are still at reduced workforce.
All reported that the grant, which the To help in their recovery and build con-
CEP established with support of the sumer confidence the businesses report-
Champaign County Board of Commis- ed using social media, partnerships with
sioners, has helped them reopen and other community organizations, Small
recover from losses in the pandemic. Business Development Center resources, Businesses Receive PPE Kits
marketing, building an online store, gift
One grantee replied, “Yes, I would not certificates and revising their business CEP Director Marcia Bailey presents Tom
have been able to reopen.” Recipients plan. Winnenberg, Operations Manager of
used their grants for supplies, rent,
utilities, payroll, insurance, bridge One grant recipient has already repaid Sutphen Corporation, one of many PPE
funding and “rebuilding website for the CEP $1,000. The fund’s Pay It For- Safety Toolkits that the Dayton Develop-

future sales.” ward provision suggests that recipients ment Coalition gave to the CEP to distribute
repay grants when they get back on their to local small businesses. JobsOhio donat-
Most reported increased business. feet. Repayments are going into a fund ed the kits for businesses across the state.
One reported, “Customers seem to be for future small business needs.
making a special effort to shop local- They contain 100 3-ply masks, 10 KN-95
ly.” Others commented: Contact CEP Director Marcia Bailey if masks and a 24-ounce bottle of hand sani-

• “I have gained some new clients your small business (50 or fewer employ- tizer. The CEP still has a few of the kits. If
and have been told they appreci- ees) is struggling due to the pandemic: your business needs one, contact the CEP
ate the cleanliness.” marcia@cepohio.com or 937-653-7200. at info@cepohio.com or 937-653-7200.
• “All clients have come back &
CEP Board Members Share Businesses’ Experiences During Pandemic

Continued from Page 1
Ethan Snyder, small business CEP that performs title work for lenders.
said he’s also concerned about the fu- Board rep, says that his business, Old
ture of government’s support of small Souls Farms, has had to be flexible. “Although we did have clients cancel
business. “Are things going to change in Old Souls grows and markets micro- appointments due to the virus, we were
November?” greens, specialty greens, herbs and very busy with the real estate side, as
head lettuce near St. Paris. people wanted to buy or refinance with
Yet, the Thackerys recently bought the lower interest rates.”
building next door to the Café, 12 Monu- “The pandemic caused a massive mar-
ment Square. Amy Forrest, owner of In ketplace shift for us. Some customers For a time, limited hours in the courts
Good Taste Catering in Mechanicsburg, completely dried up and closed their and county offices made completing
will open a new business, In Good Taste doors. Other customers’ volumes dou- legal work difficult. “Particularly because
Fresh Market, on the first floor. bled almost overnight. Adjusting for the majority of court and county records
these shifts has been difficult, but man- in Champaign County are not available
The Fresh Market will carry Champaign ageable.” online,” Zook said.
County and central Ohio food products,
take home dinners, fresh salads, dinner Before the pandemic Old Souls’ market Dana Booghier, building and zoning
ingredient packages, charcuterie trays mix was evenly split among industrial, CEP Board rep, is director of Champaign
and gourmet gift baskets. food service and retail customers. County Building Regulations. In this role
“Now the sales mix is almost entirely he has helped local businesses comply
Ryan Berry, the IT/marketing CEP retail.” He’s hopeful the traditional with state orders limiting occupancy dur-
Board rep, said, “Connecting to our com- blend will return. ing the pandemic.
munity online has never been more im-
portant.” His company, Berry Digital So- Wearing PPE is a standard part of food The Champaign County commissioners
lutions, provides digital marketing ser- production, but getting those supplies granted him authority to issue business-
vices for small businesses, including became challenging during the pan- es certificates of occupancy, at no cost,
website development and social media. demic. to help them determine the number of
people permitted in their buildings under
His team has helped clients “pivot quick- Snyder adds, “We were fortunate to be the limitations. He has issued 13 certifi-
ly and adjust to the daily changes able to take part in the PPP loan. As a cates.
caused by COVID-19. We are spending result, we protected roughly 15 jobs at
every day creating new ways to connect full-time hours.” The commissioners also allowed him to
our community digitally.” keep normal operating hours and ser-
Dana Zook, legal CEP Board rep, is a vices. He’s stayed busy issuing building
Accustomed to meeting online before the partner of Wagner, Maurice, Davidson permits and conducting building inspec-
pandemic, the Berry Digital team has & Zook Co., LPA, in Urbana. Zook said tions, and says, “We’re slightly ahead of
been guiding clients and community that the firm stayed open throughout last year in residential and commercial
leaders to use web conference software. the pandemic as an essential business development (despite the pandemic).”