District 5 Businesses Received $1.2 Million in Covid-relief Grants from Milwaukee County

MILWWAUKEE – More than 150 small businesses located in Milwaukee County’s 5^th Supervisory District received a total of $1.2 million through the County’s Small Business Recovery Initiative Grant program, more than any other Supervisory district.

“Small business owners have encountered significant hardships due to the Coronavirus pandemic and its effect on our economy and they need our help. Thanks to federal funding through the CARES Act, Milwaukee County provided an urgently needed economic stimulus targeted to the small business owners in our community who needed it most. Many small businesses in my district applied for and were able to benefit from this program. This is great example of how Milwaukee County is methodically dismantling structural racism and promoting racial equity,” said Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson.  

In a report to the Economic and Community Development Committee, the Economic Development Division reported on the success of the program, which has awarded just under $11.7 million to 1,551 business.

Of the total, 66% of grant recipients identified as a minority, women or veteran-owned business. In addition to promoting racial equity, the County prioritized applicants that had a letter of support from a member of the Ethnic & Diverse Business Coalition.

The County’s Economic Development Division created an interactive map that the public can use to view grant recipients categorized by Supervisory district and demographic information.

Business owners that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to visit the Economic Development Division’s website to find additional resources.

Chairwoman Nicholson is calling on the Wisconsin Legislature to provide additional support to small businesses by increasing funding for Community Investment Development Grants through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.