The Daviess County Fiscal Court has established a relief fund for bars and restaurants that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s been a long hard road from the middle of March to now,” explained Judge-Executive Al Mattingly.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, there was a huge shutdown of bars, restaurants and other businesses,” he added. “It’s created a lot of problems because the Governor shut them down again (bars and restaurants). They can still deliver food but can’t have anyone inside.”
Referencing the dine-in restrictions, Mattingly said restaurants still have expenses, such as utilities, rent and employee salaries.
“Like most small businesses, they are worried about their employees,” he stated. “They are trying to make sure they are gathering some revenues.”
The Fiscal Court agreed to establish a relief program from the Economic Development Fund. That fund was established with the sale of the old industrial property on Daniels Lane, where the hospital is located now. Over time, the fund has been replenished by the county.
“We wanted to look at helping those bars and restaurants that paid an occupational tax and net profits tax to Daviess County,” Mattingly said. “We are proposing to take a portion of that economic development fund – up to $250,000 – to provide assistance to bars and restaurants with indoor dining, located outside the corporate limits of the city.”
Mattingly explained that Owensboro businesses were able to obtain assistance through a city fund. However, bars and restaurants in the county, outside the corporate limits, had very little relief.
“This fund is patterned after the state’s rules, so if you are a publicly traded company, you are not eligible for this,” explained David Smith, Director of Legislative Services. “It is geared toward mom and pop enterprises. In looking at the data from the health department, we believe anywhere from 25 to 30 businesses could tap this fund.”
The Fund will make one-time grant awards of $5,000 per restaurant, with a $10,000 maximum per business entity. The deadline to apply for the program is December 21st.
Important Note: To be eligible for a grant award, the establishment must be located outside the corporate limits of the City of Owensboro and pay occupational taxes to Daviess County.
[Click here for application information]
Other News:
The Monument Relocation Committee submitted recommendations to the Fiscal Court, concerning the statue and base on the Courthouse lawn. The Committee suggested the statue go to either the Owensboro Museum of Science and History or the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art. It was recommended to move the base to the Panther Creek Battlefield site along U.S. 431.
The Fiscal Court voted to transfer county-owned interest in a property at 711 West Third Street to the City of Owensboro. This site will be the future corporate headquarters for Big Rivers Electric Corporation.
Commissioners approved a rollover of Rural Secondary Program Funds from the state. It was a modification of an existing agreement for three bridge projects. Two of them are completed and the third on North Jackson Road will be finished at the end of the year.
The Court awarded bids for the following items: four batting cages at Panther Creek Park, Bituminous Hot Mix and Pavement Milling, and Mowing of County Right-of-Ways.
Albert Ray Cooper has been promoted to Road Department Utility Laborer, effective December 4th.
The Court approved the hiring of Marvin Ammons as Road Department Service Technician.
Harry Pedigo has been appointed to the Library Board for a term of December 3, 2020 – September 13, 2021. James Kulman had served a partial term on the board.
