Staff Report

The Mercer Island City Council has awarded $270,000 in COVID grant funding to a host of local businesses and nonprofits.

At its Nov. 2 meeting, council allocated the funding for 50 small businesses and four nonprofits impacted by the pandemic.

The Mercer Island COVID-19 Relief Grant Program, which was approved by council at its Oct. 20 meeting, is funded entirely by CARES Act federal stimulus funds provided by the US Department of Treasury to the state of Washington.

“Local businesses and nonprofits provide services, create jobs, generate sales tax revenue, and are vital to Mercer Island’s quality of life and sense of community,” said Sarah Bluvas, small business liaison for the city. “We hope this financial assistance will give a small boost during the last quarter of the year and help our Island organizations remain open to continue serving the community.”

In a previous Reporter story, Bluvas said the grants would be awarded in flat amounts of at least $5,000 each, depending on how many applications they received, and can be used for eligible COVID-related expenses like plexiglass sneeze guards, personal protective equipment (PPE), sanitation stations, commercial rent relief and more.

The city received more than 100 grant applications through Oct. 29. All eligible applicants were sorted into three prioritization pools, and awardees were then selected at random via a lottery process. Recipients include: 12 retailers, 11 salons, 10 restaurants, six fitness studios, six childcare/education services providers, five dry cleaners/tailors and four nonprofits.

Grants are expected to be presented next month. City staff will contact recipients during the first week of November to begin the contracting process.

The city received $367,000 during the second round of CARES funding, according to a previous Reporter story, and the remainder will go toward the city’s cost for emergency response during the pandemic and other eligible expenses.