Saturday is the deadline for small business owners applying to receive a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program. The program is meant to help small businesses keep employees on the payroll. Fort Myers Brewing Co. and Tiki Tails Dog Resort in Cape Coral are some of the businesses locally that took advantage of the PPP loan. For more information and to sign up for the PPP, click here.

 

Collier County ranked No. 2 in SmartAsset’s list of “Places with the Lowest Closing Costs” in Florida. The study measures closing costs as a percentage of median home value at the county level. Collier County was listed with average closing costs of $7,999; the median home value of $340,100; 2.4% in closing costs as the percentage of home value; and closing costs index of 68.82. Additional information on the study, including the full methodology, results and interactive map can be found here.

 

The Lee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday authorized the next round of LeeCARES programs to assist individuals, families and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board approved plans to launch Round 2 of LeeCares Assistance for individuals and families providing for broader eligibility and increased award amounts up to $3,000 per household. Grant recipients from earlier rounds of assistance are also eligible for Round 2 funding. Round 1 closes to applications on Aug. 7 and Round 2 opens Aug. 17. The new plan also enhances the Business Rehire program by increasing grant sizes by up to $8,000 awarded to each full-time equivalent rehire according to wages paid; doubles the maximum scholarship amount allowed for each child that qualifies for childcare expenses to $2,500 in order to extend the program through the remainder of  2020; distributes personal protective equipment to county residents in partnership with the municipalities; and enhances CARES Act funding by $1.8 million for the existing Rapid Re-housing Program administered by the county’s Department of Human & Veteran Services. Visit LeeFLcares.com for additional information about all available programs.

 

COVID-19 is forcing parents to make tough choices when it comes to deciding to send kids back to the classroom or stay at home, but private schools are another option for parents, WINK News reports. Dennis Chapman, head of school for the Village School of Naples, said he thinks more parents are turning to private schools this year because of the lower classroom sizes, which makes social distancing easier. Village School of Naples has seen a significant increase in tours and inquiries, mostly from parents with elementary school-aged children, Chapman said. Village School of Naples is only requiring masks when social distancing isn’t possible. “We are really trying to make this feel as normal as possible for our children,” Chapman says.

 

Charlotte County received $32.9 million through the CARES Act this year, and a portion of that money will be used to assist community businesses in need. More than $6.5 million of federal money will help Charlotte businesses heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, county commissioners confirmed Thursday. The 20% portion of money the county received from the federal grant will be given to qualified Charlotte County businesses by electronic application through its recovery grant program, WINK News reports. The county plans to allocate the money in four separate phases at more than $1.6 million each time by business group. Qualified applications for the first stage will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, on a first‐come, first-serve basis while the funds last. Visit Cleared4Takeoff.com for the application form and details about the program.

 

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