COVINGTON, Ky. — The City of Covington is giving some business owners a helping hand during the holidays. Almost $500,000 in grants are being given out to 13 different businesses in order to offset losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Trying to make it through the next 12 weeks is going to be rough, because we were trying to figure out how we’re going to get funding,” The Delish Dish Catering & Events owner and executive chef Mavis Linnemann-Clark said. “Do I have to take out a personal loan?”
She said these are the questions she wrestles with every day – and at least now, she has some answers.
"The city of Covington has been a cheerleader for us and they've helped us out in other aspects of my business, and this is no exception," Linneman-Clark said.
Covington and Kenton County put money together to give the Delish Dish a $50,000 grand. They’re also giving grants of differing amounts to 12 other local businesses – all in an effort to keep them afloat and keep jobs in the city.
“This will help us keep our doors open and our kitchen cooking," Linneman-Clark said. "It's just the best, absolutely the best, Christmas present that I could ask for."
She said the grant is even more important since her catering company doesn’t qualify for certain relief funds that are only available to restaurants and bars.
"There is hope for small businesses; you just have to look for it under every nook and cranny," Linneman-Clark said.
She said 2020 has not been easy for The Delish Dish or many other businesses across the Tri-State – but the catering company said the grant gives it a new reason to look forward to 2021.
"We're already negative for the year, so it will help us not lose as much money in the first part of the year,” Linneman-Clark said. “And, hopefully next year we can make it out and recover what we've lost this year, which is a lot."
Covington and Kenton County businesses that get grant money will have to work with the Kentucky Small Business Development Center to make sure they are prepared and ready for whatever they might need to do to get through the rest of the pandemic.
