PAGE 8 | THE VILLAGER • June 11, 2020
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Covering business
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Centennial businesses strategize how to prove need for grant money, and how to spend it
a lot more intentionally targeted, tioning focused on helping anyone with as much auditing as much as from athletes to those struggling humanly possible, to ensure it’s with severe bone density issues. being spent as fairly and appropriBaird estimates his losses from ately as possible, and so you have the pandemic at close to $70k at Businesses in the City of Cendata to look back on.” this point, and has several ideas on tennial are eager to be the first in Examples of businesses that how the grant funding could help line to apply for up to $32,500 are likely to be eligible for this him get his business right-coursed, in city allocated grant funding, round of grants include restaurants from PPE to rent and renovations. part of the first $5-out-of-$10 and bars, breweries/wineries/ Given Baird’s business has an million of Federal Coronavirus distilleries with tasting rooms; element of gym-like equipment, Aid, Relief, and Economic Seretailers such as clothing stores, the PPE component might be a curity (CARES) Act money the and florists; personal services such good fit if his application is apcity received. Centennial is now as salons and spas; health services proved. turning the money around into the such as dentists, chiropractors and “We are all excited to see many community to immediately help counselors; fitness centers such as of our Centennial small businesses local businesses rebound from the Staffers at The Makery Cake Company are working hard to rebound from an 85% revenue drop. gyms; and more. starting to reopen. We know it has losses they suffered during the past 14 years, and she desperately ders such as exterior expansions, been a real struggle and thrilled to COVID-19 pandemic. The business has to have been needs this grant funding. interior renovations, etc. “Our city relies on small busilicensed with the The COVID-19 pandemic has Rayford received a PPP loan, nesses and we are doing everyCity of Centennisent her business revenue down but said it did not stretch far thing we can for small businesses al by October 1, enough to cover rent and employ- 85% since March. Gone are the so they can adjust through this 2019 or prior. ees during curbside pickup, and at days when $800 birthday cakes period and remain viable,” said Ineligible were selling, and even higher times, he’s been working without Candace Moon, District 1 City businesses inprice wedding cakes, during what clude those that air conditioning to save money Council Member. is traditionally the peak of the on the utility bills. Just this week, The applications are expected operated fully wedding season. The Makery he has added a breakfast menu to to go live on the website any day throughout the has continued to fill cake orders, increase revenue and traffic into now at CentennialCO.gov. They pandemic; homehis restaurant to keep him out of but keep in mind that until this will be reviewed on a first-come, based businessthe red. past week, public health orders first-served basis. es; non-profits; “It’s just been really slow, and have not allowed for any gather“That money would definitely nationally owned ings larger than 10 people in one go towards a patio. We’ve already it’s been tough, and grant funding entities; any kind would really, really help us out,” place. So, no single orders in three of marijuana-retalked to the landlord and hired an architect, and the city’s already he said. His wife has her own full- months have been for anything lated businesses; time job, but to help keep payroll bigger than a single layer cake that liquor stores; approved it,” said Jesse Rayford, down, when she is done with her feeds 10-12 people. The Paycheck and, sexually owner of Jesse’s Smokin’ NOLA work for the week, each Friday Protection Loan (PPP) loan she restaurant in the northeast corner oriented businight, she then joins Jesse for the received on behalf of the Small of the S. University Blvd. & E. nesses. weekend to work at the restaurant. Business Administration (SBA) Dry Creek shopping center. Businesses came in at the federal level, and it that shut down, only stretched far enough to pay but then operated for two months of rent and exsome type of The Makery Cake Shop can design any type penses. Inconveniently, the vinyl curbside operon both her east and south facing ations will likely of custom cake. exterior signs gave way and broke qualify. Locally owned franchises offer grants for PPE to help ensure our businesses are meeting state off her building. The Centennial of national chains may also qualrequirements and keeping their grants are different, in that these ify. are from the city, and require no This gives John Baird hope, as customers and employees safe,” said Christine Sweetland, District repayment. he recently put $250k into open2 City Council Member. “If I got this grant money I ing a local OsteoStrong franchise While the City of Centenniwould put in new flooring, get less than a year ago in the southal has yet to announce how my signs fixed, pay this its next round of community month’s rent (due 11 days CARES Act funding will be ago), and I would start dispersed, financial expert some new marketing efClarke suggests the city considforts,” said Kelly. er strongly rethink any physical Her biggest concern requirements. about the application Jesse Rayford of Jesse’s Smokin’ NOLA serves up authentic “I don’t know if I would put process, however, is the New Orleans cuisine, and he recently added a breakfast menu in a brick and mortar require“first-come, first-served” to help with revenue. ment in a 21st century grant system, given she is Despite Rayford’s own panprogram where the internet and A patio expansion is an ideal highly preoccupied in demic challenges, on nearly half a the coming days with her digital innovation is such a big use of the money, according to component of our everyday Neil Marciniak, Centennial’s Eco- dozen occasions, Rayford brought mother’s funeral and her his authentic New Orleans cuisine own grieving process. lives,” said Clarke. “There are nomic Development Director. to area hospitals on his own dime simply so many businesses that The grants will fall into three She is worried she may to feed first responders during the do not have a front end consumcategories, and each business is be predisposed the same peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. moment or same hour er facing space yet provide full allowed to apply for a grant in all “Really, they are the backbone fledged businesses that operate three of the categories, which inthe grant applications are of this country, the doctors and and provide essential goods and clude the following: available online. nurses, so we were happy to get services.” (1) Personal protective equipSenior Financial Manout there and help in the commuCity Manager Matt Sturgeon ment (PPE) and safety grants are agement Consultant Erik The locally owned OsteoStrong nity,” said Rayford. has provided city councilors up to $2500 each and provide for Clarke, who has audited Across town at The Makery assurances that his staff has been businesses to procure their own the compliance of several franchise had not even been open a year before the pandemic hit. Cake Company, owner Desiree hard at work preparing for the PPEs and accompanying safety dozen government and Kelly has found herself in finangrant program to go live on the training. non-profit grant programs, said he east corner of the S. University cial turmoil. When The Villager city’s website, even reallocating (2) Operations grants are understands using the “first-come, Blvd. & E. Dry Creek shopping arrived to interview her, Kelly’s staff into different roles to ensure budgeted up to $10,000 each and first-served” disbursement process center. staff let us know she had just left that when applications begin are for businesses impacted by “If it’s applicable to me, and as a manner of speed. for a personal emergency. Kelly’s coming in, they will be processed closures to cover rent, utilities, it’s a grant, then who wouldn’t be “I think the two phased promother had just died suddenly in quickly and checks issued promptpayroll, inventory, etc. interested,” said Baird, who has cess is good, splitting the two an accident on a Nebraska high(3) Temporary and Physical had to close down his business not ly. five million amounts in half, and way. She made the time, however, getting the first $5 million out into long after opening it. When the grant application Improvement grants range up to to speak to us by phone. Her busi- the community as soon as possible process is ready - which will be $20,000 each and are to assist OsteoStrong is membershipness in the northwest quadrant of any day now - you will be able businesses with building and/ based Integrative Health and to stop the hemorrhaging,” said S. Holly St. and E. County Line to find the application on or site modifications to facilitate Wellness Center with a focus on Clarke. “For the second phase, if Blvd. has been a fixture for the CentennialCO.gov. compliance with public health orMusculoskeletal Strength CondiI were designing it, it would be BY JESSICA ROE GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER
