DIXON, CA (MPG) - Several Dixon businesses got to breathe a big sigh of relief recently when they received COVID relief funds through the City’s Community Development Block Grant. Three businesses, Dawson’s Bar and Grill, Moyo Hana, Inc. (The Frying Pan) and Dentist Dr. Kristina Wiley received $49,598 each.

Three other businesses were awarded $14,170 each. They were PIP Wine Bar, Mother House Plant Boutique and VIP Nail, Spa & Hair.

Other awards were to Central Valley Physical Therapy, $35,427; Elite Carpet Cleaning and Upholstery $7,085; Affordable Auto Glass $21,256; Dixon Nail Spa $28,341; and K & W Kitchens $49,598. 

“The program distributes the money through the focus of job retention,” explained Larry Burkhardt, Economic Development/Grants Manager.” Under the program, businesses can qualify for up to $10,000 per job retained. These eleven awardees represent our second round of funding. The first round assisted seven additional Dixon businesses. The total awards for the two rounds is nearly $600,000, providing assistance to 18 Dixon businesses,” he said.

“The Program represented an additional way in which the City sought to assist those small businesses affected by COVID-19 that are so much a part of our community,” he said. Funded by the federal CDBG, the Program was to provide financial assistance in the form of forgivable loans to eligible Dixon for-profit businesses significantly impacted by the pandemic. The Program goal is the retention of existing jobs.

“Dawson’s would not be here if not for this aid,” said Jill Orr. “Greg and I would have lost everything. The rent, utilities, and insurance had to keep going and most of our staff was told to draw unemployment, and we turned everything we could off. We are so thankful.”

Congress provided $5 billion in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for the CDBG program to states, metropolitan cities, urban counties, and insular areas to prevent, prepare for, and respond to Coronavirus.

Monies have also been awarded by the Paycheck Protection Program through the Small Business Administration. That program provided forgivable loans if jobs were retained; several restaurants also received money for COVID relief. According to FederalPay.org, they were: The Frying Pan $42, 405, Fanning’s Pub and Grill $142,105; Historic Dawson’s Est. 1908 LLC $87,878; Thai E-San Kitchen $24,730; and Wienerschnitzel #874 $26,700.