QDC expands business aid grant program

By Larry Tucker
editor@wood.cm
Posted 4/29/20

The Quitman Development Corporation (QDC) made plans for phase two of grants for local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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QDC expands business aid grant program

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The Quitman Development Corporation (QDC) made plans for phase two of grants for local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The QDC met by teleconference last Thursday for a workshop concerning the grants followed by a board meeting to act on three items. 

The QDC will start taking applications May 1-8 and hopes to start writing checks as early as May 4. The board decided to make the qualifications a little more detailed than the original. The grants will once again be $300 cash or $500 in gift cards.

The response during phase one was successful with the QDC handing out grants to 40 businesses in the city. To be eligible, a business must reside within the city limits of Quitman as city sales tax money is what funds the organization. 

Board member David Dobbs gave a report on phase one.

“We actually issued checks totaling $12,000. We had three local merchants that opted to give the gift cards of $500 and the remaining balance of the grants were $300,” Dobbs explained. “We had 45 applicants and we had a few from outside of town, but we were able to grant most of the grant requests.”

Board President Martha Scroggins informed the board she had reached out to the Wood County Economic Development Commission (WCEDC).

“I did apply for a grant on behalf of the QDC to the economic development commission (WCEDC) to utilize UCC (unclaimed capital credit) funds to maybe assist us for some funds available for May should we decide to go that route,” Scroggins noted. “I talked with the president of that organization yesterday. He stated that it is under consideration but ran into a little bit of a roadblock.”

According to Scroggins, that roadblock was that in the tax codes it reads the UCC money is to help start-ups, to help major sporting events or programs related to the arts.

“There is gray area in there because we are asking for something for existing businesses, not new start-ups,” Scroggins added. “(County Judge Lucy Hebron) has requested from Austin consideration in a little bit of flexibility to use those UCC funds, so we may still get some funding. She indicated don’t give up. I think we need to proceed as if we are not going to receive it. We probably need to earmark things in our budget to go ahead and do it.”

During the workshop the application process was discussed. Some businesses have received funds and some are waiting to receive funds.

“I think we need to keep it simple. The way things are now, we just need to keep it simple as possible,” Brad Medlin said. 

Dobbs said he felt the board should anticipate what they need.

“My suspicion is that anyone who got a grant may come back and ask again so we should anticipate at least $12,000. Again, we had some that requested, but did not qualify,” Dobbs remarked. “I think on the application we need to tighten up our language just a little bit. Besides that, less is more here, simple, easy for us to be able to review quickly and get those checks out.”

After the workshop, the board unanimously approved $15,200 for the phase two of the grant program. 

In other business, the board approved paying for landscape maintenance for the downtown parking lot behind the Lipscomb Street businesses on the north side of the square through the end of the fiscal year in September. They will use money dedicated to downtown renovation not to exceed $500.

In another matter, the board elected Dr. Greg Eberhart as the organization’s treasurer.