Risa Brago, owner and instructor of Zen and Now Wellness Studios on Flanders Road, Niantic, teaches yoga classes on Friday, July 22, 2022. (Daniel Pasapella / Special Today)
Risa Brago, owner and instructor of Niantic’s Zen and Now Wellness Studio, teaches a morning yoga class on Friday, July 22, 2022. (Daniel Pasapella / Special Today)
Risa Brago, the center, owner and instructor of Zen and Now Wellness Studios on Flanders Road, Niantic, smiles after teaching a yoga class on Friday, July 22, 2022. (Daniel Pasapella / Special Today)
Risa Brago, owner and instructor of Zen and Now Wellness Studios on Flanders Road, Niantic, teaches her second yoga session on Friday, July 22, 2022. (Daniel Pasapella / Special Today)
After teaching a yoga class in front of the window on Friday, July 22, 2022, you’ll see the silhouette of Risabragor, owner and instructor of Zen and Now Wellness Studios on Flanders Road, Niantic. (Daniel Pasapella / Special Today)
This article is part of a series that explores how towns in southeastern Connecticut are allocating funds for the American Rescue Planning Act.
At Zen & Now, East Lime’s yoga and fitness studio, owner Lisa Bragaw, who has now grown from 34 instructors before the COVID-19 pandemic to about 18, is about to relaunch and previously We are doing more advertising than. Do it before.
Brago said he earned money as a pharmacist in the early days of the pandemic when his fitness class was virtualized with zoom only, but he had to use that job to subsidize Zen & Now. rice field.
She is grateful for the $ 5,000 grant she recently received from East Lime. Especially considering that he was not eligible for many other support, such as paycheck protection program loans. Her teacher is a contractor, not an employee.
Zen & Now is one of many small and medium-sized businesses in southeastern Connecticut, funded by federal American Rescue Planning Act funding in cities and towns. Not all municipalities offer ARPA dollars to SMEs, but municipalities that have already reduced checks, have allocated but have not yet paid, and are in the early stages of managing grant programs. There is also.
“We are against everything from sewers, air conditioners, town rides, etc.” said Lisa Konikki, chairman of the Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce, and getting funding means going to a town council meeting, in fact. To our business. “
Just as Norwich, New London, and Stonington have signed with the Southeast Connecticut Cultural Union to manage grant programs for artists, nonprofits, and arts companies, local governments are responsible for managing grant programs. Provided ARPA funds to the Chamber of Commerce.
According to Konicki, the Chamber of Commerce received $ 100,000 from Westerly, $ 75,000 from Stonington, and $ 19,000 from the Stonington Autonomous Region, with about 80% of the money paid by each community. Charlestown, Rhode Island will vote on August 9 to give the Chamber of Commerce $ 60,000.
In the town of Stonington, $ 64,000 is for small businesses, $ 6,000 is for chamber administration, and the rest is for new events this winter. The company must complete the project, submit a receipt and get a refund.
Konikki rattled several projects in the town and autonomous region: Denison Pequart Sepos Nature Center got $ 3,544 to replace a broken awning, Soundwave Magazine lost Earn $ 2,000 to make up for advertising revenue, Precious Memories Preschool earns $ 2,500 to redeem cleaning supplies, Indulge Coffee & Sandwich Co. Earn $ 2,000 in Outdoor Seating Area I am.
For the new event, Konikki didn’t provide details when he applied for funding, basically saying, “Trust us.” She quoted the success of the Stonington Lobster Tlap Tree as saying that the Chamber of Commerce has gained trust and overdelivery.
The Chamber of Commerce then created a website to publish the details of the event. StarryLights is “Westerly-a magical holiday art installation in two temporary states that brightens downtown Pocatac in a cheerful and bright way this holiday season.” The Chamber of Commerce has contracted with artists for three weeks in December to create an art installation that spans Donahue Park and Wilcox Park.
Stonenington also donated $ 13,000 to the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce is heading to the original postal truck that the Chamber of Commerce purchased for $ 14,000. Bruce Flux, who became executive director of the Chamber of Commerce during the pandemic, said it would be branded and used for marketing in downtown Mystic and at events. He said the Chamber of Commerce had moved from the Visitor Center on Green Manville Avenue to the upstairs space in downtown Mystic due to financial difficulties.
According to Flux, the chamber is seeking funding for the design from Grotontown, which is considering applying for community projects and initiatives.
Flux also sought funds from Stonenton to pay an unpaid $ 8,000 police invoice from the 2019 Mystic Outdoor Art Festival. He said the town chose to allow the bill.
“We promised not to let it happen again. We are now much financially stronger,” Flux said. He said the 2021 festival police invoice was paid within 30 days.
Beyond existing business
Kevin Brown, President of Norwich Community Development Corp., said NCDC’s ARPA spending ranges from expanding existing businesses to helping them start new businesses and creating opportunities. rice field.
Norwich allocated $ 2 million to NCDC last September. In October, the Ventura Barber Shop received a pilot award of $ 10,073 to cover building code upgrades. NCDC began the application process in February and chose to build an enfield-based leading edge in March to assist in overseeing and coordinating the $ 2 million program.
In June, NCDC announced that eight development projects would receive a total of $ 1.2 million and would be paid upon completion of the work. This includes funding to assist street staff with the cost of refurbishing a new motorcycle showroom, a Ross Custom switch to replace the roof of 45 Church Street and make the second floor available, and Ganesha Hospitality’s former Elks Scrub. Includes funds to help open a boutique hotel. Located on the main street.
Other grants will be sent to these Guys Brewing Co., Thayer’s Marine, Antenna Salon, and two development groups refurbishing space on 51-53 and 54 Broadway for future retail business.
According to Brown, the first $ 2 million tranche also includes about $ 125,000 to support other projects in architectural, mechanical and engineering design, so it goes through a rally with building professionals. And are eligible for further funding. It also includes a 10% administration fee for NCDC and Leading Edge Construction. It states that Mr Brown is a “amazing” partner.
The rest of the first tranche, and $ 1.5 million in the second year, will be used to fund projects in the queue or new projects.
According to Brown, the projects in Queue include a potential bakery in Tuftville, a potential sandwich shop on North Main Street, an extension of Brick & Basil Wood Fired Pizza Co. to a permanent location, Franklin 71 and 47. Includes street storefront creation. .. Ready occupancy for retail use that has not yet been determined.
Brown also said he hopes to open a new application window in the fall.
Also, using ARPA funds, on July 7, Norwich City Council individually approved a $ 1.05 million package of solar seals to manufacture custom glass panels for skyscrapers.
Solar Seal will relocate to the 200,000-square-foot former Wrightlier Building at Norwich Business Park in Stanley Israel.
With the help of the city, senior vice president Jeff Heinz said the company could start production in Norwich by this fall and be ready to quickly prepare for expansion plans. Due to supply chain issues, Solar Seal is currently ordering equipment.
In New London, in April the city council announced $ 20,000 to replace the internal vents of the Washington Street Coffee House, $ 50,000 to replace the roofs of 68 and 312 State Streets, and $ 50,000 to replace the interiors of HVAC and Bank Street Buildings. Approved. The Blue Duck restaurant recently opened and paid $ 50,000 for repairs to the Hot Rod Café façade and roof.
The city council in May and June said $ 100,000 for internal renovations of buildings purchased by the Connecticut Eastern Chamber of Commerce for new homes and startup incubators, and $ 75,000 to help reopen the Lighthouse Inn after a fire. Approved $ 256,000 for women’s business. Development council.
Elizabeth Nosera, the city’s economic development coordinator, said the WBDC will implement a business grant program and applications will begin in September.
According to Nosera, the city council’s agenda on August 1st was $ 66,800 for over-the-counter construction of a fitness business owned by American Ninja Warrior finalist Samel Delgado at 310 State St. Includes $ 50,000 for roof repair at New London Elks Lodge No.360.
She said all projects require a 25% match, and business owners and real estate owners can buy and refund 75% or the city can pay the contractor directly.
Old Lyme and Waterford sign external consultant
Old Lyme used an external consultant to manage the Economic Recovery Grant Program and paid George Krivda $ 20,000. The town has selected all 33 Old Lyme-based businesses and nonprofits that have applied for grants. Most were $ 10,000, but some were less.
Abdul Khan, owner of EZ Mini Mart, said he hasn’t received a $ 10,000 check yet, but will use it to reimburse the cost of introducing a new air conditioning system last October. (Last week, it was comfortable and cool during the visit in the heat of the heat.)
Regaining that hefty cost will help Kahn in the effects of pandemic-related inflation and supply chain problems: he says the cost of buying a gallon of milk has gone from $ 3.69 to $ 5.19. I did.
Other businesses selected with a $ 10,000 grant include Advanced Emergency Products, Coffee’s Country Market, HS Plaut Environmental Company, Old Lyme Landscape, Teddy’s Old Lyme Pizza Palace, and St. Germaine Painting, The Bowerbird and more.
Like Old Lyme, Waterford pays an outside consultant: the town has a $ 66,000 contract with Briana Regine, said Planning Director Abbey Piercell. Waterford has secured $ 300,000 for small businesses and is “currently in the process of shaping our program.”
“We want to raise money for multiple rounds, so we’re creating a program that has a certain lifespan,” says Piersall. She said the plan was to launch a survey for SMEs and nonprofits next week and share the results at the SME Forum in August.
Piersall said Regine will also assist employers in the application process, as some people have never applied for a grant, as opposed to nonprofits. Konicki also pointed out.
East Lime chooses several companies
In East Lime, 19 nonprofits and 10 businesses demanded a total of $ 1.56 million, and the town awarded 18 nonprofits $ 461,945. The subcommittee’s comment on the unselected projects was that they provided inadequate information or that they had already received a large loan or grant.
The town has allocated $ 20,000 to East Coast Taco, $ 8,000 to second-hand store Serendipthrifty, and $ 5,000 to Zen & Now.
Emily Semmelrock, owner of Serendipthrifty, said she received the money a few weeks ago and plans to use it to replace parts of the rack, increase inventory, and keep up with rent and utilities. She opened her store last May, so there’s no point of comparison before the pandemic.
Semmelrock said he heard about the program at the East Lyme Community Forum, saying, “I’m just doing this myself, so to be honest, I’ve taken a lot of stress off my shoulders.”
Day staff writer Claire Besset contributed to this report.
e.moser@theday.com
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