Access to stimulus money a long process for some small south suburban businesses

After a devastating August 2018 fire that virtually destroyed the Blue Island restaurant he and his wife owned, Erich Wennberg thought they had gone through the most challenging disaster a business could face.

That, however, was before COVID-19 and a statewide stay-at-home order that is hobbling eating and drinking establishments.

“There are eerie similarities between both situations,” Wennberg said.

He and his wife, Katie, own Maple Tree Inn, which had been in a temporary location in Blue Island following the fire, then opened this February in Homewood.

They were fortunate in that they were able to secure federal stimulus money to help cover their payroll.

However, many firms that applied for help through federal programs, such as the Paycheck Protection Program, were still waiting word on their fund before the prior pool of money was depleted, according to organizations such as the National Federation of Independent Business and Illinois’ Small Business Advocacy Council… Please click here to read Mike Nolan’s story in the Tribune/Daily Southtown.

Related: Nonprofits & the Payroll Protection Program: You can now apply through Illinois Facilities Fund (IFF)