The City of Mount Vernon, The City of Lisbon and the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Charitable Development Group (CCDG) have created a Small Business Relief Fund to help small businesses in the two communities through hardships associated with the coronavirus.
A tax-deductible fund has been set up through the CCDG and will be managed by a volunteer committee made up of representatives from both communities. The fund is meant to add to grants currently being offered to small businesses through the City of Mount Vernon and the City of Lisbon.
Individuals who wish to donate to the tax-deductible fund can do so by writing checks to the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Charitable Development Group (CCDG), P.O. Box 31, Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314. Online donations are being taken through the CCDG’s PayPal account at visitmvl.com All monies taken in will go toward the fund. Donors are asked to specify that funds be directed toward Mount Vernon or Lisbon businesses. If no specific instructions are included, the funds will be dispersed to the area’s small businesses as the CCDG volunteer committee sees fit.
Small businesses in both Mount Vernon and Lisbon who have a Federal Tax ID Number are welcome to apply for the relief funds.
A link to the Mount Vernon business application can be found here: https://visitmvl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Mt-Vernon-Small-Business-Relief-Program-Guidelines-2.pdf
A link to the Lisbon business application can be found here: https://visitmvl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Lisbon-Small-Business-Relief-Program-Guidelines-4.pdf
The relief limit per business is capped at $5,000 in Mount Vernon and $2,500 in Lisbon, based on the current amount of funds available. One application per business. If there is money left over in the account, a second round will be announced.
The fund was created with $15,000 in seed money from the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group.
“This program grew out of a dire need for support for small businesses during the current pandemic,” said CCDG Board President Myrt Bowers. “The City of Mount Vernon created the program and CCDG was quick to get on board. We were thrilled to also partner with the City of Lisbon. We are asking all businesses to ask for just what is needed to sustain operations. We understand that small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and the need is great.”
Questions regarding the program can be directed to Joe Jennison at (319) 210-9935.
About the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group exists to improve the social and economic well-being of Mount Vernon and Lisbon by capitalizing on their unique identity, assets and character. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community in 2008, and practices economic development within the context of historic preservation.
