A Dysart combination kitchen store and coffee shop was the sole recipient of grants to a business in Tama County from the Iowa Small Business Relief Grant program, It was triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

KE Black Mercantile LLC- Tama Co. received a $6,000 grant.

“My conversations with local banks have been positive, ” Katherine Ollendieck, Tama County Economic Development director, commented on Thursday, April 16, on the heels of the awards announcement.

“We have businesses applying to the program and working directly with their bank. These past few weeks have not slowed down for our office and this is encouraging,” Ollendieck said.

No breakdown by county or city of all the applications was provided by Iowa Economic Development Authority which administered the program.

Tama County Economic Development said

A sampling of some of thee awards from surrounding counties includes Benton County- Donald D. Drahos Drahos Shoe Store, $15,000; Marshall- Lowe’s Flowers LLC $20,000; Poweshiek- K5 Inc. $10,719; Grundy- Katherin K Lubbert – Wildflower $5,000; and Black Hawk- Look Good, Feel Good, Inc. $25,000:

A total of 500 businesses state-wide received nearly $24 million in assistance according to the IEDA.

The agency said in a news release nearly 14,000 Iowa businesses had applied seeking more that $148 million in assistance.

The release also noted “At this time all available funds have been expended. If additional funding becomes available, additional awards will be made from the current pool of applicants. IEDA will not open a new round of applications.”