Fulton County officials and FEDCO are pleased to announce that 29 local businesses were awarded a total of $248,500 in grant funding from Indiana’s Office of Rural and Community Affair’s (OCRA) Small Business Relief Funds. Applicants had to apply by June 1 and meet eligibility requirements as set out by OCRA and stated on the application form. The eligible applications were reviewed by the local grant team and then approved by OCRA officials.

Of the thirty-eight business funding applicants, 32 met the eligibility requirements which included:

Businesses with less than $1 million in gross annual sales and fewer than 20 employees. Reminder: There is a requirement that 51% of jobs retained must meet the LMI (Low-to-Moderate Income) federal guidelines.
Businesses who have been denied benefits from other federal or state programs or have been declared ineligible may receive priority
Businesses must have incurred a business/financial loss due to COVID-19
Businesses must be based in Fulton County
Nonprofits are not eligible per HUD Rules

Fulton County businesses who were approved by OCRA and received awards include: Affordable Hearing Store of Rochester, Akron Liquor Store, DeBruler Imaging, Destinations by Donna, Dockside Bar and Grill in Macy, LLC, El Machete Restaurant, LLC, Evergreen Eatery, Ferro26, LLC, Fulton County Massage Therapy Clinic, Fulton Tavern, Inc., Gast Heating & Cooling, Inc., JRS County Lanes, Inc, Just Coast Customs, dba Custom Concrete Leveling, Kline Performance Equine, Kristy's Hometown Bar & Grill, L.N.C. Corp., Lighthouse Kitchen, Mikey's Pizza Pit Stop, MMW and Family, NAJO LLC, Rochester Dental Center, Rochester Hotel LLC, dba Quality Inn Rochester, Rochester Hotel LLC, dba Super 8 Rochester, Rochester Meat and Deli, TEH Enterprises, LLC dba Oil Change Express, The Record Farm, Tweedle D's, West Ninth, and WROI.

The goal of these funds, per federal requirements, is to retain jobs and 51% of the jobs retained must be held by LMI (Low to Moderate Income) persons. The North Central Regional Plan Council serves as administrator of the grant, FEDCO manages the grant application process for Fulton County, and OCRA staff provide oversight.

For more information related to the application process, please contact Amy Beechy, Manager of Small Business Initiatives for FEDCO at amy@projectmatttersllc.com or telephone 574.709.7955.