The Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA), in conjunction with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), is pleased to announce the recipients of the Disaster Recovery Microloan (DRM) Program. The DRM program is a loan program for local business owners who suffered measurable physical damage to their buildings/business due to civil unrest in the City of Kenosha this past summer.
The WEDC provided funding which is administered by KABA in the form of no interest loans of up to $50,000. The loans have a 5-year repayment period, a 6-month deferment, and are intended to assist with repair work and other short term operating expenses. Each loan recipient will have an opportunity to have up to 50% of their loan amount forgiven for meeting certain program criteria.
“We are very appreciative of the support from Governor Evers and the WEDC through the Disaster Recovery Microloan Program,” said KABA President Todd Battle. “In the days that followed the civil unrest in Kenosha, we worked collaboratively to leverage this program to help impacted Kenosha businesses and property owners.”
The applications were reviewed and awarded by a 17-person committee comprised of volunteers from the business and non-profit communities. KABA would like to thank the following volunteers for their participation:
- Lisa Bartko
- Kristy Bragg
- Mike Deney
- James Hall
- Diamond Hartwell
- Renelsa Hall
- Anthony Jefferson
- Brian Little
- Tanya McLean
- Erica Ness
- Jon Purcell
- Melissa Thompson
- Christian Venegas
- Sara Verbsky
- Kyle Vitkus
- Andy Vogel
- Chris Ziarko
A total of $1.45 million was awarded to Kenosha County businesses in this first round. Each of the following recipients received a $50,000 Disaster Recovery Loan:
- Affordable Auto Sales of America LLC
- Apis Hotel LLC d/b/a Apis Hotel and Restaurant
- A.D. Associates LLC
- Best Wireless WI Inc d/b/a Metro by T-Mobile
- Cast LLC d/b/a Sazzy B/The Buzz
- Cellular Express of Racine d/b/a Cellular Express (multiple locations)
- City Kicks LLC
- Clovis Point, LLC
- Daniel Brown d/b/a Something Different
- Dong Won Lee d/b/a Uptown Beauty
- El Buen Gusto, LLC
- Fiesta Catering, LLC d/b/a Chef David’s Catered Events
- FS Fuels of Kenosha Inc. d/b/a Gulf
- JKP Properties LLC
- La Estrella Supermarket LLC d/b/a Tienda y Dulceria La Estrella
- Lakeside Family Therapy Services
- Lakeside Fuels of Kenosha Inc. d/b/a Gulf
- Las Margaritas Bar & Grill, LLC
- Luminarias Banquet Hall Inc.
- McDonald Institute LLC d/b/a Wine Knot Bar & Bistro
- Paul Campagna
- Shrinkwrap Supplies LLC d/b/a zipperdoors.com
- Solton LLC d/b/a Boost Mobile
- The Mattress Shoppe LLC
- Uptown Restaurant LLC
- USTKDA d/b/a U.S. Taekwondo Academy
- Vallabh Vitthalji LLC d/b/a Kenosha Gas Stop
“We are very thankful to WEDC for these dollars and appreciate KABA’s assistance,” remarked loan recipient Georgina Posada. “We suffered significant damage this summer and insurance proceeds did not cover our losses.” Georgina owns Luminarias Banquet Hall in the Uptown Neighborhood and is working to re-open.
KABA has more than $2.5 million still available for affected businesses and applications are being accepted and reviewed for future awards. Please visit https://www.kaba.org/Kenosha-_Cty_DRM_2020 for more information. Applicants may contact KABA at grants@kaba.org with any questions.
WEDC’s Disaster Recovery Microloan Program was introduced in 2018 and is available to businesses in all 72 counties impacted by manmade or natural disasters declared by state or federal authorities. For detailed information on the program, visit wedc.org/disasterrecovery.