Monroe County, IL Economic Development Corporation

If you are a business looking for employees or if you yourself are looking for employment or a new career, join us at the Monroe County Job Fair on Wednesday, February 16 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at The Falls Reception & Conference Center in Columbia, IL.

Employers: Registration is free for Monroe County businesses! Meet potential employees, take job applications and even conduct on-site interviews. Register by January 21, 2022 at www.columbiaillinois.com/jobfair. Businesses outside of Monroe County are also welcome to join for a minimal fee. Please register at the same link by January 21. You will be notified on January 24 of space availability. The job fair will be advertised locally and regionally to attract quality candidates.

Job Candidates: Here's your chance to speak with up to 50 companies looking to fill positions. Bring several copies of your resume and find your dream job! Need assistance or nervous about interviewing? Workforce Development of Monroe County will have specialists on hand to help guide you, free of charge! You will also have the opportunity to have a professional headshot taken, courtesy of Nancy Quernheim with Ivy Bell and Company. You also have a chance to win a new iPad, just for attending!

The Monroe County Job Fair is sponsored by the Cities of Columbia and Waterloo, Monroe County, the Columbia and Waterloo Chambers of Commerce and the Monroe County Economic Development Corporation.

Covid-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) deadline of December 31st, 2021 is rapidly approaching!!

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is still offering any small businesses that have been impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 disaster and were operating before January 31st, 2020 the opportunity to apply for these loans.

The SBA has increased the maximum borrowing amount available from $500,000 to $2 million.

These loans have fixed interest rates for business owners and nonprofit organizations:
- Businesses will be offered an interest rate of 3.75% (fixed)
- Private nonprofit organizations will be offered an interest rate of 2.75% (fixed)

These loans are for a 30 year term.

If this opportunity interests you, please go to www.sba.gov
or https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sba.gov%2Ffunding-programs%2Floans%2Fcovid-19-relief-options%2Feidl%2Fcovid-19-eidl%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3bjJufyaZvixGf6AoWp32T3H8mJe81tmoyJiMI6TIBla-lhh5CobLZWPU%23section-header-4&h=AT0DST6WQCAdog61vEPlDA9NVwXMrUZsZNvMuyuOun1YWDC4keMcZtGRWNeQLXe-Y0Z9QcDp4Uzpd7KRZCoEeHlJy4-WRRg5N2-Ku60Ql3MFLOcPZLV1DsJpyl4g0TJBHQ&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT03wr7BK02tKi4Dwx3CHarNL3sGVEBC9BVl7Y3sxBwu2tSs54prRCWW8jR3XmTz4OBLyq1l_-QmJCXMlcP-QLBO4byziy39GTLoniUpjh7reJ_PbJvUo52DyALwRmOJoKJtsldmAkcq1VjBtYym-b5bqkZAxK6YfhD9Ac3jguEB6g

All requirements and documentation needed to apply for these loans can be found on the SBA website. Please feel free to reach out to MCEDC staff if you have further questions or concerns!

For help with EIDL, call 833-853-5638 (TTY: 855-440-4960) or email [email protected]. For help with Targeted EIDL Advance, email [email protected]. The COVID-19 EIDL Customer Service Center is open 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m. ET, seven days a week.

COVID-19 EIDL This federal small business loan program supports small businesses’ recovery from the COVID-19 disaster’s economic impacts by providing accessible and borrower-friendly capital.

Awards can range from $10,000 - $1,000,000. Monroe County EDC is again working with ILDCEO’s Community Navigator program to bring COVID-Relief programs to the region. The Tourism Attractions and Festivals Grant Program is focused on putting businesses/organizations in the Tourism Industry on the path to economic recovery from COVID-19.

MCEDC staff stands ready to pre-screen your organization in terms of eligibility to apply, and provide grant writing assistance to ensure your application is complete and competitive. (Grant applications should be no more than 50% of the total project costs (if a for-profit business, that amount can’t exceed 25%). To get started:

- If you are a Tourist Attraction, contact Emma Hampsten, [email protected] 618-973-1011.

o Tourist attractions: are defined as fishing and hunting areas, state parks, historic/cultural sites, areas of historic or scenic interest, museums, recreation areas, botanical gardens, them/amusement parks, interpretive programs and other facilities or businesses that attract or serve visitors that are open to the public for a minimum of 100 days per year and are marketed and promoted to visitors from more than 50 miles away. (Wineries, breweries, distilleries can be eligible applicants, as long as the proposed project expenditures and activities do not include the purchase of, or manufacture of, alcoholic beverages.)

- If you are a Tourism Event or Festival, contact Travis Wente, [email protected] 618-917-4875.

o Tourism Events: are defined as an event, such as a major convention, trade show, sporting activity or festival, with potential to attract visitors from outside 50 miles radius and to produce significantly increased economic impact for the State through overnights stays.

o Tourism Festivals: are defined as an organized series of public activities for a specific duration which may include, but is not limited to, the following activities: fairs, carnivals, exhibitions, musical and cultural performances, with potential to increase economic activity within the tourism, travel and hospitality industries while generating foot traffic in neighborhoods and businesses corridors which have experienced a decline in economic activity due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Note: Application materials must be submitted to Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Office of Tourism via electronic form at: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/37d8696088314547810fbe6f82c5648d.

To learn more, click on this link to the IL DCEO website with more detail on the program: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/AboutDCEO/GrantOpportunities/Pages/2645-1997.aspx