The McKinney Strong business grant is open to small businesses and nonprofit entities with a commercial business address and location in McKinney, officials said. Home-based businesses would not be eligible for the grant.
The grant is funded by the McKinney Community Development Corp. Approved grants would not exceed $1,500 per business and would be used to reimburse expenses in April and May, including rent; utilities; and communication, such as internet and phone, according to meeting documents.
The grant is designed to help local businesses financially impacted by coronavirus regulations and orders, officials said.
During the council work session held before the meeting, Mayor George Fuller said this was only one option of several the city is examining to provide relief to businesses and residents.
“At the end of the day it is taxpayer money; it’s not ours to just do what we want to do,” he said. “Staff is looking at every place we have available for these funds. [These funds are] immediately available, and our ability is already legislated to do it.”
The item was part of council's consent agenda and was approved unanimously. Later in the meeting Council Member La'Shadion Shemwell said more needed to be done to provide relief to residents facing homelessness and to assist businesses facing eviction.
The city will make the application for the grant funds available in the near future online.
Editor's note: The original post has been edited to correct an error. The item was approved by the council unanimously.
