City of Wilmington issued the following announcement on Sept. 22.
The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce has approved 192 Hospitality, Retail & Service grant requests to businesses located in New Hanover County, totaling an investment of $4,212,112. The investment in these businesses will help offset the more than $65 million in lost revenue due to COVID-19 and the subsequent restrictions on business. Grant awardees represent as many as 3,700 local employees.
The Hospitality, Retail & Service grant was announced in July as part of New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington’s initiative to direct $4.5 million in funding allocated through the Federal Government’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) to areas the community had recognized as priorities. The Hospitality, Retail & Service Grant was created to provide one-time grants to local businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
City of Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said, “Wilmington small business owners and their employees are vital to Wilmington’s economy and have endured enormous challenges over the course of the pandemic. That is why the City of Wilmington together with New Hanover County made small business relief a priority for our American Rescue Plan funds. With the assistance of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, we are quickly and equitably putting millions back into the hands of local small businesses to support a broad-based economic recovery.”
Around 650 businesses applied, and 192 businesses met all qualifications for the grant. The county will be funding 106 companies with $2.3 million and the city will be funding 86 companies with $1.9 million.
“Our small businesses have suffered during the pandemic and need help to recover,” said New Hanover County Commissioners Chair Julia Olson-Boseman. “New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington are placing an emphasis on helping local business owners with cash they need to provide jobs and jumpstart our economy. This is now the second time New Hanover County has appropriated federal relief dollars to provide a lifeline to our local businesses after we committed $1.3 million in CARES Act funds last year for small businesses. I appreciate the city’s partnership, which made this assistance program go so much farther and I appreciate the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce stepping up to administer the program.”
Investing in hospitality and tourism is one way to promote economic recovery and economic development. Supporting these hardest-hit industries helps our community move forward faster. Of the 192 grant awardees, 136 are businesses owned by minorities, women, or veterans.
Wilmington Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Natalie English said, “I’m so proud of the collaborative efforts from New Hanover County and the City of Wilmington to help our businesses recover quickly and reposition themselves for growth. We know our hospitality, retail, and service-based businesses are a critical component of our local economy. New Hanover County will be stronger for this important grant investment that will save and create new jobs.”
Hospitality, Retail & Service Grant Awardees
| 128 South Events & Catering |
| A Space to Call Home |
| Advanced Application Design, Inc. |
| Advanced Maintenance |
| After School Karate Academy |
| Airlie Homes |
| AMG Motor Sports |
| Andrew Consulting Engineers, PC |
| Apple Annie's Bake Shop |
| Appliance Service Company |
| Aqua Fedora |
| AR Workshop |
| Archer's Appliance Repair, LLC |
| Art in Bloom Gallery |
| ATB AUTO'S, LLC |
| Atlantic Computer Services |
| Aunt Kerry's Pet Stop |
| Barnes Family Dentistry |
| BAU Print and Mail Inc. |
| Best Rentals |
| Beth Bullard |
| Bike Cycles |
| Black Sea Grill |
| Blockade Runner Beach Resort |
| Blue Roll |
| BlueTone Media |
| Boathouse Restaurant |
| Boseman's Sporting Goods, Inc. |
| Breadsmith |
| BRIDGES |
| Brooklyn Arts Center |
| Broomtail Craft Brewery |
| Bryant Real Estate |
| Cape Fear Boil Company |
| Cape Fear Coach Lines, Seacoast Trolley |
| Cape Fear Smiles |
| Carolina Candy Company |
| Carolina Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery |
| Catch Restaurant |
| Ceviche's |
| checkers |
| Children's Cottage of Wilmington |
| Chrystal Fray State Farm |
| Circa 1922 |
| Citrus Cans |
| Clothes Mentor |
| Coastal Accounting |
| Coastal Golfaway |
| Coastal Massage & Spa |
| Comfort Inn University |
| Complete Renovation Solutions LLC |
| Cousins Italian Deli |
| Crossfire Paintball |
| Crown Hotel and Travel Management, LLC |
| CryoCove |
| D Thomas Roofing Co Inc |
| DANCE EXCHANGE INC |
| Dance Express Performing arts Studio |
| Daniels Tours |
| Dockside Restaurant |
| Dogwood Architecture |
| Double Happiness Restaurant (2 locations) |
| Down Island Traders |
| Dr. Coleman Burgess |
| Drift Coffee & Kitchen |
| Duck and Dive |
| Ebbing Branding + Design |
| ELIZABETH PIZZA INC |
| Five Star Cleaning Service, Inc |
| Flying Machine Brewing Company |
| Flytrap Brewing |
| Fudgeboat |
| Geo Owl LLC |
| Goodfellas Nitelife |
| Graphic Image Printing |
| Gymnastics Unlimited |
| Hampton Inn Medical Park Hotel |
| HANOVER COATINGS INC |
| Havana's Restaurant |
| Helen Tarokic Law PLLC |
| Hey Beer Bottle Shop |
| High Performance Lighting & Power, Inc |
| High Tide Canvas and Upholstery |
| Hill & Klutch Studio |
| Hurricane Alleys |
| Ibiza Nightclub |
| Indochine Restaurant |
| Inner Solutions Counseling Center, PLLC |
| Innovations of Hope |
| Isaac’s Clothing Store |
| Islands Fresh Mex Grill |
| J. MICHAEL'S PHILLY DELI |
| Java Dog Coffee House |
| Jenkins Preschool Academy, LLC |
| Jerry Allen’s Sports Bar and Grill |
| Jester's Cafe |
| Joe's Oasis |
| Junction 421 |
| Just Cut It Barbershop |
| Kale Me Crazy |
| Kendall's Hallmark (2 locations) |
| KGAB, Inc. |
| Little Asia Bistro |
| Lula's Pub |
| Matt Skelly Training |
| MEOW Investments |
| Michael's On the Waterfront |
| MICI Inc dba Park Select |
| Might as Well |
| Mirror Image Barber and Styling |
| Modern Legend |
| Moe's Southwest Grill |
| Moving It Forward |
| Nails Amour |
| New Hanover Printing & Publishing |
| NNR HOSPITALITY |
| Nori Asian Fusion and Sushi Bar |
| Nurses Choice |
| Old Books on Front |
| Once Upon a Child |
| Panacea Brewing Company |
| Patient Centered Care, PLLC |
| Patriot Roofing Company, LLC |
| Paul Vision Institute |
| Perry's Emporium, Inc. |
| Physical Therapy for Women, Inc |
| Pizzeria IL Forno |
| Plato's Closet |
| Port City Brew Bus |
| Port City Java |
| Pour Taproom |
| Pravda KGB |
| Protocol |
| Re-eco Design |
| RIGI INC |
| Ripxfit Fitness Studio |
| Rosalie's Trattoria |
| Rountree Losee LLP |
| Salt Water Real Estate |
| Saltwater Salvage Designs |
| Sapos Cleaning |
| Savorez |
| Scooter's Family Skating Center |
| Seacoast Systems, Inc. |
| Seagate Direct |
| Seagate Hair Studio |
| Seagrass Salon & Day Spa |
| SeaWitch |
| Service. Auto repair |
| Seven Mile Post Pub |
| Shannon Agee |
| Signarama |
| Slice of Life (4 locations) |
| Splash & Dash Coin Laundry |
| Stemmerman's Inn |
| T and D Custom Fences and Deck, LLC |
| Tanglez Salon & Spa |
| Terra Sol Sanctuary |
| TF Fitness and Nutrition |
| The Brewer's Kettle |
| The Copper Penny |
| The Fairy Circle LLC |
| The George on the Riverwalk |
| The Greeks |
| The Harp
THE HEMP FARMACY |
| The Ivy Cottage |
| The Mailbox Store |
| The Second Glass LLC |
| The Veggie Wagon (3 locations) |
| The Verandas |
| Thrill of the Hunt, Ltd |
| Tideline Surfaces |
| Tinyz Tavern |
| Tire Repair and Sales |
| Total Comfort Services, Inc. |
| True REST Float Spa |
| TW Lewis Electric, Inc. |
| Which Wich Mayfaire |
| Which Wich Pointe |
| Whitley Coleman, PLLC |
| Wilmington Bilingual Preschool |
| Wilmington Brewing Company |
| Wilmington Mental Health |
| Your CBD Store |
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