Employees and owners of independent restaurants, bars, shops and other small businesses are being urged to apply for possible monetary support from the Gateway Resilience Fund.
The fund, created by the St. Louis Community Foundation with input from advisers Gerard Craft of Niche Food Group, Roo Yawitz of The Gramophone and Patrick Brown, former chief resiliency officer for the City of St. Louis, aims to provide short-term monetary relief to employees and owners of local small businesses affected by closures and other circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Right now, there are already many employees of independent businesses who have already been laid off,” fund co-creator and adviser Roo Yawitz told Gazelle. “They need funds to pay the bills and buy groceries.”
The Gateway Resilience Fund will consider covering personal, family, living or funeral expenses incurred as a result of the outbreak. The fund will make direct grants to eligible applicants or pay their bills, according to Yawitz.
“In the initial round, individuals who have been affected will be able to apply for a $500 payment or $1000 of direct bills paid,” he explained.
In addition, there are grants available for small businesses in downtown St. Louis.
You are eligible to apply if they meet both of the following conditions:
- You are an employee, essential local contractor, or owner of an independent bar, restaurant, entertainment venue, retail establishment or other small locally owned business in the St. Louis region.
- You have experienced financial burden due to the coronavirus pandemic, a qualifying event.
“This fund was created to show the owners and employees of St Louis independent businesses that this city values them and what they add to the fabric of this great city,” Yawitz said.
The Gateway Resilience Fund is now taking applications and accepting donations online, stlgives.org/covid19
