Monroe County, IL Economic Development Corporation

02/11/2022

If you are a business looking for employees or if you yourself are looking for employment or a new career, join us at the Monroe County Job Fair on Wednesday, February 16 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at The Falls Reception & Conference Center in Columbia, IL.

Employers: Registration is free for Monroe County businesses! Meet potential employees, take job applications and even conduct on-site interviews. Register by January 21, 2022 at www.columbiaillinois.com/jobfair. Businesses outside of Monroe County are also welcome to join for a minimal fee. Please register at the same link by January 21. You will be notified on January 24 of space availability. The job fair will be advertised locally and regionally to attract quality candidates.

Job Candidates: Here's your chance to speak with up to 50 companies looking to fill positions. Bring several copies of your resume and find your dream job! Need assistance or nervous about interviewing? Workforce Development of Monroe County will have specialists on hand to help guide you, free of charge! You will also have the opportunity to have a professional headshot taken, courtesy of Nancy Quernheim with Ivy Bell and Company. You also have a chance to win a new iPad, just for attending!

The Monroe County Job Fair is sponsored by the Cities of Columbia and Waterloo, Monroe County, the Columbia and Waterloo Chambers of Commerce and the Monroe County Economic Development Corporation.

01/05/2022

SIUE and the USDA are still offering the E3 Fueling Growth program through Feb. 2022! Currently, there are no plans to extend the program after that, so take advantage of the program while you still can!

Current projects/businesses utilizing this program include:
- 4204 Brewery in Belleville, IL: where the program is assisting with marketing, nutritional testing, and experimental brews
- Old Herald Brewery & Distillery in Collinsville, IL: where the program is helping with compositions of whiskey, exploration of new aging methods, and marketing
- Dry Street Gardens in Alton, IL: where the program is testing spirulina fatty acid levels and protein content, helping them toward their efforts to patent their product.
- See More Inn in Waterloo, IL: where the program is lending knowledge in Applied Communications Study to help plan sensory-friendly events, as well as business plan development.
- And many more!!

If your business or someone you know with a business that may be interested feel free to apply today!
Link: https://www.siue.edu/e3-fueling-growth/about/index.shtml

Potential projects/services include:

-Food and beverage analytical services
-Menu development and nutritional analysis
-Land use and environmental impact studies
-Employee recruitment, retention and training strategies
-Aerial survey and GIS mapping
-Analytical testing services
-Marketing and communications training
-Small business development services
-Community-based projects for sustainability

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12/23/2021

Covid-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) deadline of December 31st, 2021 is rapidly approaching!!

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is still offering any small businesses that have been impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 disaster and were operating before January 31st, 2020 the opportunity to apply for these loans.

The SBA has increased the maximum borrowing amount available from $500,000 to $2 million.

These loans have fixed interest rates for business owners and nonprofit organizations:
- Businesses will be offered an interest rate of 3.75% (fixed)
- Private nonprofit organizations will be offered an interest rate of 2.75% (fixed)

These loans are for a 30 year term.

If this opportunity interests you, please go to www.sba.gov
or https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sba.gov%2Ffunding-programs%2Floans%2Fcovid-19-relief-options%2Feidl%2Fcovid-19-eidl%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3bjJufyaZvixGf6AoWp32T3H8mJe81tmoyJiMI6TIBla-lhh5CobLZWPU%23section-header-4&h=AT0DST6WQCAdog61vEPlDA9NVwXMrUZsZNvMuyuOun1YWDC4keMcZtGRWNeQLXe-Y0Z9QcDp4Uzpd7KRZCoEeHlJy4-WRRg5N2-Ku60Ql3MFLOcPZLV1DsJpyl4g0TJBHQ&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT03wr7BK02tKi4Dwx3CHarNL3sGVEBC9BVl7Y3sxBwu2tSs54prRCWW8jR3XmTz4OBLyq1l_-QmJCXMlcP-QLBO4byziy39GTLoniUpjh7reJ_PbJvUo52DyALwRmOJoKJtsldmAkcq1VjBtYym-b5bqkZAxK6YfhD9Ac3jguEB6g

All requirements and documentation needed to apply for these loans can be found on the SBA website. Please feel free to reach out to MCEDC staff if you have further questions or concerns!

For help with EIDL, call 833-853-5638 (TTY: 855-440-4960) or email [email protected]. For help with Targeted EIDL Advance, email [email protected]. The COVID-19 EIDL Customer Service Center is open 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m. ET, seven days a week.

This federal small business loan program supports small businesses’ recovery from the COVID-19 disaster’s economic impacts by providing accessible and borrower-friendly capital.

12/09/2021

Covid-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) deadline of December 31st, 2021 is rapidly approaching!!

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is still offering any small businesses that have been impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 disaster and were operating before January 31st, 2020 the opportunity to apply for these loans.

The SBA has increased the maximum borrowing amount available from $500,000 to $2 million.

These loans have fixed interest rates for business owners and nonprofit organizations:
- Businesses will be offered an interest rate of 3.75% (fixed)
- Private nonprofit organizations will be offered an interest rate of 2.75% (fixed)

These loans are for a 30 year term.

If this opportunity interests you, please go to www.sba.gov or https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/eidl/covid-19-eidl -header-4

All requirements and documentation needed to apply for these loans can be found on the SBA website. Please feel free to reach out to MCEDC staff if you have further questions or concerns!

For help with EIDL, call 833-853-5638 (TTY: 855-440-4960) or email [email protected]. For help with Targeted EIDL Advance, email [email protected]. The COVID-19 EIDL Customer Service Center is open 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m. ET, seven days a week.

SBA will also be holding virtual office hours Wednesday December 15th, 2021 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST

This federal small business loan program supports small businesses’ recovery from the COVID-19 disaster’s economic impacts by providing accessible and borrower-friendly capital.

11/19/2021

SIUE and the USDA are still offering the E3 Fueling Growth program through Feb. 2022! Currently, there are no plans to extend the program after that, so take advantage of the program while you still can!

Current projects/businesses utilizing this program include:
- 4204 Brewery in Belleville, IL: where the program is assisting with marketing, nutritional testing, and experimental brews
- Old Herald Brewery & Distillery in Collinsville, IL: where the program is helping with compositions of whiskey, exploration of new aging methods, and marketing
- Dry Street Gardens in Alton, IL: where the program is testing spirulina fatty acid levels and protein content, helping them toward their efforts to patent their product.
- See More Inn in Waterloo, IL: where the program is lending knowledge in Applied Communications Study to help plan sensory-friendly events, as well as business plan development.
- And many more!!

If your business or someone you know with a business that may be interested feel free to apply today!
Link: https://www.siue.edu/e3-fueling-growth/about/index.shtml

Potential projects/services include:

-Food and beverage analytical services
-Menu development and nutritional analysis
-Land use and environmental impact studies
-Employee recruitment, retention and training strategies
-Aerial survey and GIS mapping
-Analytical testing services
-Marketing and communications training
-Small business development services
-Community-based projects for sustainability

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11/05/2021

SIUE and the USDA are offering a grant program called E3 Fueling Growth, which allows your business to utilize the bright minds at SIUE to help with food and beverage analytics, environmental studies, marketing training, and more!

The full range of services E3 Fueling Growth offers to businesses in the Greater St. Louis area are:
- Food and beverage analytical services
- Menu development and nutritional analysis
- Land use and environmental impact studies
- Employee recruitment, retention and training strategies
- Aerial survey and GIS mapping
- Analytical testing services
- Marketing and communications training
- Small business development services
- Community-based projects for sustainability

If you are interested in applying for assistance in any of these areas please visit their website at: https://www.siue.edu/e3-fueling-growth/about/index.shtml

OR email the program at [email protected]

Take advantage of the ever-expanding base of knowledge this program provides!
See their page at: https://www.facebook.com/E3-Fueling-Growth-101216454724158/

10/22/2021

Awards can range from $10,000 - $1,000,000. Monroe County EDC is again working with ILDCEO’s Community Navigator program to bring COVID-Relief programs to the region. The Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant Program is focused on putting businesses/organizations in the Tourism Industry on the path to economic recovery from COVID-19.

MCEDC staff stands ready to pre-screen your organization in terms of eligibility to apply, and provide grant writing assistance to ensure your application is complete and competitive. (Grant applications should be no more than 50% of the total project costs (if a for-profit business, that amount can’t exceed 25%). To get started:

- If you are a Tourist Attraction, contact Emma Hampsten, [email protected] 618-973-1011.

o Tourist attractions: are defined as fishing and hunting areas, state parks, historic/cultural sites, areas of historic or scenic interest, museums, recreation areas, botanical gardens, them/amusement parks, interpretive programs and other facilities or businesses that attract or serve visitors that are open to the public for a minimum of 100 days per year and are marketed and promoted to visitors from more than 50 miles away. (Wineries, breweries, distilleries can be eligible applicants, as long as the proposed project expenditures and activities do not include the purchase of, or manufacture of, alcoholic beverages.)

- If you are a Tourism Event or Festival, contact Travis Wente, [email protected] 618-917-4875.

o Tourism Events: are defined as an event, such as a major convention, trade show, sporting activity or festival, with potential to attract visitors from outside 50 miles radius and to produce significantly increased economic impact for the State through overnights stays.

o Tourism Festivals: are defined as an organized series of public activities for a specific duration which may include, but is not limited to, the following activities: fairs, carnivals, exhibitions, musical and cultural performances, with potential to increase economic activity within the tourism, travel and hospitality industries while generating foot traffic in neighborhoods and businesses corridors which have experienced a decline in economic activity due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Note: Application materials must be submitted to Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Office of Tourism via electronic form at: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/37d8696088314547810fbe6f82c5648d.

To learn more, click on this link to the IL DCEO website with more detail on the program: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/AboutDCEO/GrantOpportunities/Pages/2645-1997.aspx

10/22/2021

Is your business wanting to undergo changes but you're just not sure what strategy is best? Well, you're not alone! SIUE and the USDA are offering a grant program called E3 Fueling Growth, which allows your business to utilize the bright minds at SIUE to help with food and beverage analytics, environmental studies, marketing training, and more!

The full range of services E3 Fueling Growth offers to businesses in the Greater St. Louis area are:
- Food and beverage analytical services
- Menu development and nutritional analysis
- Land use and environmental impact studies
- Employee recruitment, retention and training strategies
- Aerial survey and GIS mapping
- Analytical testing services
- Marketing and communications training
- Small business development services
- Community-based projects for sustainability

If you are interested in applying for assistance in any of these areas please visit their website at: https://www.siue.edu/e3-fueling-growth/about/index.shtml OR email the program at [email protected]

Take advantage of the ever-expanding base of knowledge this program provides!

See their page at: https://www.facebook.com/E3-Fueling-Growth-101216454724158/

10/08/2021

If you are a southwest Illinois business or non-profit who has yet to receive, or is still in need of, assistance in recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Monroe County EDC stands ready to help you apply for B2B Grant funds before the October 13th deadline. To find out more and/or receive help in completing an application to ensure you receive a fair shot at a grant, do one or more of the following:

PARTICIPATE IN MONROE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (MCEDC) VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS:

MCEDC is hosting special virtual office hours to assist businesses to meet the Back to Business grant application deadline. Emma and Travis will be available via ZOOM to answer questions you may have on funding availability, eligibility, priority industries, disproportionately impacted areas (DIAs), documentation requirements, and any other application assistance needed. (If these times do not work for you, please reach out to staff directly at 618- 973-1011 or email [email protected]. ) We are here to help.

- Friday, October 8th from 9 am -10am OR 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
- Monday, October 11th from 10 am – 11 am OR 6 pm – 7 pm
- Tuesday, October 12th from 12 pm – 1 pm OR 6 pm – 7 pm
- Wednesday, October 13th from 9 am – 10 pm OR 12 pm – 1 pm OR 5 pm – 6 pm.
(Due to Facebook's formatting the ZOOM links were not working properly, please reach out to us via phone or email and we can provide the ZOOM link to the virtual office hours)

CHECK OUT APPLICATION portal beforehand and/or start the application process at www.illinois.gov/dceo.

START GATHERING NEEDED DOCUMENTATION:

1. 2019 and 2020 Federal Tax Returns
2. One business bank statement from between April and Dec. 2020, inclusive, that reflects business expenses
3. Your most recent business bank statement
4. Business owner ID – ITIN accepted (driver’s license, state ID, passport, or matricular consular card).

**If aforementioned documents don’t show current business address, you might need to supply a document that does (e.g. utility bill, lease/mortgage credit card statement, or business license.**

09/23/2021

The State of Illinois' Back 2 Business Grant application website will only be accepting new applicants until October 11th, 2021. If your business was effected by COVID-19, you may qualify for the grant. For more information go to https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo or email us!

With Illinois’ new $250 million
(B2B) economic recovery program, we are targeting relief for the hardest hit industries and
geographies across the state. And, with 100+ community navigators across the state to help local businesses
apply for B2B grants of $5-150K, you will get Back to Business in no time