Ellsworth County, the city of Ellsworth and Wilson have been awarded more than $300,000 in Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response Supplement funds from the Kansas Department of Commerce.

As a result, government entities will have money to distribute to local businesses affected by COVID-19.

Ellsworth County and Ellsworth each received $132,000. Wilson received $77,000

Stacie Schmidt, executive director of Ellsworth County Economic Development, delivered the news Monday to county commissioners.

The awards also were on the agenda that night at the regular meeting of the Ellsworth City Council.

In an interview with the I-R after the commission meeting, Schmidt said the money will go directly to the county and towns. Requirements for its distribution come from the state; however, local leaders still have questions on the amount of flexibility they have in adding their own touches to those rules.

Carol Torkelson with the Beloitbased North Central Regional Planning Commission said a question and answer session was planned Thursday with state officials.

“We will know how much latitude we will have as a community after Thursday,” she said.

Schmidt suggested the city organize a committee to review applications. After talking to business owners, she said a dozen or more are on her radar for possible grants. Torkelson said Ellsworth

Torkelson said Ellsworth County received its fair share of dollars from Kansas — even though none of the applicants received the amounts they requested.

Both Ellsworth and Ellsworth County applied for $300,000 each.

The state awarded a total of $9 million in funds to 66 Kansas counties and cities.

In announcing the awards, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said the challenges presented by COVID-19 have been unprecedented.

“Our communities need relief — and they need it now. I’m pleased to announce additional resources to help Kansans navigate through the recovery process. These grants will help our communities rebuild their economies and support Kansas families,” she said.

The state distributed in two categories — economic development and meal programs. Economic development grants provide communities with funding to help local businesses retain jobs for low-to-moderate income people by covering working capital expenses such as inventory, wages and utilities.

For-profit businesses with one to five employees can qualify for as much as $30,000. The grants were awarded on a

The grants were awarded on a first come, first served basis.

In other business:

• Jon Halbgewachs with Kirkham Michael updated the council on city projects, as he has for the past several council meetings.

• Cassidy Smith with the city’s property casualty insurance carrier presented city clerk Patti Booher with an $18,272 rebate check.

• At the request of Booher, council members approved $4,424 to replace the gutters on city hall and $2,540 to Doubrava Woodworking to repair damage in the city administrator’s office on the second floor from one of several leaks from the faulty gutters.

• Recreation director Ronnie Tenbrink said the municipal swimming pool will open next week with an additional staff member to disinfect handrails and other surfaces. Pool managers also plan to put down tape every six feet, per state health recommendations aimed at the preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

“We’ll do the best we can,” Tenbrink said.

• Council members took no action after returning from an executive session to discuss attorney-client matters.

"We will know how much latitude we will have as a community after Thursday."

Carol Torkelson

North Central Regional Planning Commission