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Dozens of small businesses throughout the city received nearly $200,000 in COVID-19 small business grants from Suffolk Economic Development Authority during its June distribution.

Grant amounts included $3,700 for 15 businesses, $2,700 for 27 businesses, $1,700 to 32 businesses and $700 for 11 businesses.

In all, 85 city businesses received $190,500. Fifteen of those businesses received the highest amount, $3,700. Those businesses included Al Forno Pizzeria, Boogies Soul Food Restaurant, C-Fit Studio, El Korita Restaurante Mexicano, Happy Nails, Kitty’s Beauty Salon, LA Nails, LAS Enterprise/SuperCuts, Peking House, Pro Nails, Ryan’s Steaks and Cakes, Sushi Aka, The Pinner House, The Truitt House and Triple T Sports Center.

To qualify for the grants, the businesses must have had no more than 50 full-time equivalent employees as of March 24, be in good standing with the city and have a current city business license, have a physical presence in the city and be established prior to Jan. 1. They also must have experienced losses in operating hours, revenue and/or reductions in staffing due to various executive orders and directives from Gov. Ralph Northam.

In particular, that included Executive Order 53 in March that placed restrictions on restaurants, recreational, entertainment, gatherings, non-essential businesses and closed K-12 schools throughout the state.

“We spent a lot of time debating about how to be effective … and make the most impact that we could,” said EDA director Kevin Hughes during an EDA board meeting earlier this month.

Businesses can use the money to pay for private utilities, rent or mortgage payments, insurance or similar expenses, products or services directly used in production of products to sell or provided services, or operating equipment.

For the first round of grants, Hughes said they accepted applications through a two-and-a-half week window in June.

Those that received the $3,700 amounts, according to Hughes, were businesses that were directly affected by Executive Order 53 and did not receive federal money, while those receiving the $2,700 grants were also directly affected but did receive some federal assistance. Companies that received $1,700 grant awards had indirect effects from the coronavirus pandemic and the state executive orders — ones Hughes said were not forced to close but had to limit their operations. Ones receiving lower amounts, Hughes said, felt indirect losses but were not necessarily shut down by Executive Order 53.

Broken down by location, 40% of businesses receiving grant money are from the central (non-downtown) part of the city, 32% are from downtown, 24% from North Suffolk and three% from the villages. City restaurants received more grants than other businesses, capturing 29 percent. Medical services made up 16 percent, 14% were retail businesses, 11% were salon/hair businesses, 9% hospitality, 6% gyms and 2% childcare.

“We feel pretty certain that we’ll do this multiple times throughout the rest of the year,” Hughes said. “So we are learning from it.”

COVID-19 Small Business Grant recipients

$3,700 (15)

Al Forno Pizzeria

Boogies Soul Food Restaurant

C-Fit Studio

El Korita Restaurante Mexicano

Happy Nails

Kitty’s Beauty Salon

LA Nails

LAS Enterprise/SuperCuts

Peking House

Pro Nails

Ryan’s Steaks & Cakes

Sushi Aka

The Pinner House

The Truitt House

Triple T Sports Center

 

$2,700 (27)

Amici’s

Baron’s Pub

Coastal Styling Studio

Cross Fitness

Decent People Taproom

Decoys Inc

Derl’z Restaurant & Pub

E Nail and Spa

Enhanced Nutrition & Energy

George’s Steak House of Suffolk

Hair Graphics

Harper’s Table

Holland’s Produce

JP Bridge Road Subway — 3575 Bridge Road

JP Harbourview Subway — 5887 Harbour View Blvd.

Lavish Nail Spa

Nansemond Brewing Station

RSCH, Inc (Riverstone Chophouse)

Steve Nails

Suffolk BBQ Co. — Airport

Suffolk BBQ Co. — Main Street

Sugar Mama’s Bakeshoppe

The Catering Place

The Plaid Turnip

The Spa & Laser Center

Vintage Tavern

World Class Too

$1,700 (32)

Bennetts Creek Marina, Inc.

Bennetts Creek’s Home Away From Home

Cecelia’s Boutique & Gifts

Cedar Point Country Club

Coastal Pest Control

Comfort Suites

D.B. Bowles Jewelers

Dynamic Movements School of Performing Arts

Early Resultz Daycare & Learning Center

Embroidery Etc.

Enochs Eye Care

Hackworth Printing & Graphics

Harbour View Dental Center

Holiday Inn Express & Suites

J&L Rentals and Party Supplies

Jana Boyd DDS

Knox Audiology

M&M Silk Flowers

Major Signs

McKenzie Foot & Ankle

Party Time Entertainment

Plastic Surgery Specialists of Virginia

Quality Time Child Care Center

Robert E. Anderson DDS

Scrubs Plus of Suffolk VA

Shotz Portrait Studio

Simply Vintage

SNKR Tub 7/8 Daequan

Suffolk Animal Hospital

Therapy Concepts

Totally Taffi

Trinity Christian Bookstore

$700 (11)

A&A Home Health

Bay Cabinets, Inc.

Best of Care Home Health

Hampton Roads Moving and Storage

Harris Funeral Home

Michael D. Eberhardt, PC

Nursing Education and Study Center

Relay Electric

Spacesaver Storage Solutions

T.E. Cooke-Overton Funeral Home

Wal-Win Carpet