Food and beverage tax support for pandemic-impacted businesses continues, advisory group to meet Tuesday
Last Wednesday, Monroe County commissioners awarded about $21,000 more in grants to pandemic-affected tourism-related businesses outside the city limits of Bloomington. That brings the total amount awarded by the county to $266,442.
The food and beverage tax advisory commission (FABTAC), has recommended that the county can use up to $400,000 of such tax tax proceeds to help businesses recover from the impact of COVID-19.
Bloomington has a corresponding loan program for up to $2 million of food and beverage tax proceeds. Through last Wednesday, the city’s loan numbers looked the same as the week before—$939,600 has been awarded to 34 businesses. All of the submitted applications had been processed as of last Wednesday.
Bloomington has loaned out another $247,170 for pandemic-relief using funds from the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association.
On Tuesday at 3:15 p.m., the FABTAC will hold a meeting, when it’s possible that they’ll approve an expansion to the county’s grant program.
At their June 3 meeting, county commissioners discussed a request that the FABTAC allow the purpose of the COVID-19 relief program be expanded geographically. The idea is that grants could be awarded to an entity located physically within the Bloomington city limits, but which serves the entire county. The wording of the resolution by the commissioners reads:
The county commissioners request to expand its current requests to use $400,000 from the County’s Food and Beverage Tax Fund to include entities whose purpose and mission is to support the entire County in tourism related endeavors.
The request from the commissioners to the FABTAC stems from an inquiry made by the Monroe County History Center.
The June 9 meeting of the FABTAC was cancelled, but the planned June 16 gathering could wind up approving the request.
At the June 10 meeting of the board of commissioners, board president Julie Thomas said that it’s not expected that additional grants can be made after the end of June. So she encouraged businesses that might be eligible to go ahead and apply. The grants are tied to the health emergency that’s been declared by the governor. Thomas also encouraged businesses that had already received grant awards to apply for additional funds if they need additional assistance.
One of the business awarded a grant last Wednesday had previously been awarded one. The $14,218 awarded last Wednesday to Sycamore Farm, added to the $5,000 already awarded, brought the event venue’s total to $19,218. Commissioner Penny Githens said Sycamore Farm was using the grant for rent and utilities.
Sycamore Farm relies on large gatherings for its business, like graduations and weddings, Githens said. The most recent Monroe County health order, issued by health officer Thomas Sharp on June 12, effective through July 3, limits gatherings to 100 people.
The smaller limit for gatherings is one of two ways that Monroe County’s health order is more restrictive that the Indiana governor Eric Holcomb’s Back on Track plan. The other narrowing restriction is that bars keep their bar supplies—condiments, glassware, napkins, straws and the like—protected from contamination by customers.
The other business awarded a grant last Wednesday by county commissioners was Kenny’s Tavern in Ellettsville. Thomas said the tavern had been closed since mid-March. They’d tried carry-out service, but that had not been successful, Thomas said—the place is known as a gathering spot, not for its food. The tavern needs help with insurance, rent, utilities and re-stocking to prepare for re-opening, Thomas said.
City Loan Program
| Borrower | FAB | BUEA | Total |
| The Back Door | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| Baked of Bloomington | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| Cardinal Stage Company | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| FARM Bloomington | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| Nick’s English Hut INC | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| Soapy Soap | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| That’s the Rub | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| The Atlas Ballroom | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| Tonya’s Touch | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| Trojan Horse | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| Uptown Café | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| Vanished Aesthetic | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| Vibe Yoga | $50,000 | $50,000 | |
| The Chocolate Moose | $40,000 | $40,000 | |
| MJSB LLC. DBA: B-Town Diner | $32,000 | $32,000 | |
| WonderLab | $30,000 | $30,000 | |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| Big Time Trading | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| PALS | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| UnderConsideration | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| Unveiled | $25,000 | $25,000 | |
| Bloomington Massage & Bodyworks | $20,000 | $20,000 | |
| Bloomington Playwrights Project | $20,000 | $20,000 | |
| Spiral Bodies | $19,000 | $19,000 | |
| DK Sweets | $18,000 | $18,000 | |
| Gather | $18,000 | $18,000 | |
| Lotus Pilates | $16,500 | $16,500 | |
| Dat’s Cajun Food & Btown Gyros | $16,000 | $16,000 | |
| Bloomingtea | $15,000 | $15,000 | |
| inBloom Eats & Juice | $15,000 | $15,000 | |
| K&P Global DBA O’Child Children Boutique | $15,000 | $15,000 | |
| Razor’s Image | $15,000 | $15,000 | |
| The Ritz Hair Studio | $15,000 | $15,000 | |
| The Art Venue | $14,000 | $14,000 | |
| Cherry Canary Vintage | $12,500 | $12,500 | |
| Bloomington Pets Alive | $10,000 | $10,000 | |
| Bloomington Salt Cave | $10,000 | $10,000 | |
| Landlocked Music | $10,000 | $10,000 | |
| Wild Orchid Fitness & Dance | $10,000 | $10,000 | |
| Bloomington Stitchery | $7,000 | $7,000 | |
| Fraternal Order of Eagles | $7,000 | $7,000 | |
| Gaian Hands | $7,000 | $7,000 | |
| Balance Lifestyle Services | $6,000 | $6,000 | |
| Lash Envy | $5,170 | $5,170 | |
| Sew Secret Tailoring | $5,000 | $5,000 | |
| A.E.A Design & Apparel | $3,600 | $3,600 | |
| Totals | $939,600 | $247,170 | $1,186,770 |
County Grant Program
| GRANTEE | Amount | DATE Approved |
| Eagle Pointe (golf course, bar, venue) | $23,000 | 2020-04-29 |
| The Golf Club at Eagle Point | $22,500 | 2020-06-03 |
| Port Hole Inn | $20,000 | 2020-04-29 |
| Knightridge, Inc. | $15,274 | 2020-04-22 |
| Sycamore Farm Bloomington, Inc. | $14,218 | 2020-06-10 |
| Whippoorwill Hill, LLC | $13,500 | 2020-06-03 |
| Cabin Restaurant and Lounge | $10,500 | 2020-04-29 |
| Fern Hills Club, Inc. | $10,000 | 2020-06-03 |
| Beaumont House (bed and breakfast) | $10,000 | 2020-04-29 |
| Whippoorwill Hill (farm event venue) | $10,000 | 2020-04-29 |
| Wee Willies West | $10,000 | 2020-04-22 |
| Big Sky Campgrounds | $8,950 | 2020-04-22 |
| Wampler House | $8,900 | 2020-05-13 |
| Cleaning Revolution | $8,900 | 2020-05-13 |
| Trailhead Enterprises, Inc. | $8,528 | 2020-04-22 |
| Sugar Daddy’s Cakes & Catering Cafe | $8,000 | 2020-04-29 |
| Kenneth Mobley, Inc. | $7,100 | 2020-06-10 |
| Back to Nature Cabins | $7,000 | 2020-04-22 |
| Rieman Properties | $6,500 | 2020-04-29 |
| Pili’s Party Taco | $5,000 | 2020-05-20 |
| Fishin’ Shedd | $5,000 | 2020-05-13 |
| Westbury Antique Market | $5,000 | 2020-04-29 |
| Sycamore Farms Bloomington, Inc. | $5,000 | 2020-04-22 |
| Terry’s Catering, LLC. | $5,000 | 2020-04-22 |
| TJV Balloons, Inc. | $4,462 | 2020-05-01 |
| Robert Woodling Rentals | $3,800 | 2020-04-22 |
| U’sta-B-New | $3,000 | 2020-04-22 |
| Dance Machine DJ Services | $2,500 | 2020-04-29 |
| Bloomington Pub Quiz | $1,810 | 2020-06-03 |
| Trivia with Skip | $1,800 | 2020-04-22 |
| On Pointe Pet Sitting Services | $1,200 | 2020-05-13 |
