KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — It was a rocky start for the Kalamazoo City Commission virtual meeting, but after getting through some disruptive guests and technical difficulties, they were able to approve the Kalamazoo Small Business Loan Fund.
This new program will transfer $2-million dollars from the Foundation for Excellence to create low-interest loans to local small businesses struggling during this coronavirus pandemic.
According to the special meeting agenda, “The focus of the loan program will be on businesses located within the city of the Kalamazoo that have realized a significant financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Loans, between $5,000 to $50,000, may be used for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses or other similar expenses that occur in the ordinary course of business.”
The United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region will run the program.
The qualifications for eligible businesses are as follows:
- Provides support to impacted employee(s) especially employees who are in the ALICE population; minority- and women-owned businesses; and businesses that are in the food/beverage, retail, manufacturing and service industry
- Is located in the City of Kalamazoo
- Has 50 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employees or less
- Has annual revenue of $2.5 million or less
- Needs working capital to support payroll expenses, rent, mortgage payments, utility expenses, or other similar expenses that occur in the ordinary course of business
- Is able to demonstrate an income loss as a result of the EO, or the COVID-19 outbreak.
The qualifying businesses will also have no payments on these loans for the first six months and the total term of each loan will be 36 months.
Business applications will be decided by an advisory committee of representatives from the United Way, the City of Kalamazoo and the Foundation for Excellence, local banks, and local economic and community development entities.
The committee will review the eligible businesses weekly and funds could be wired as early as two days after receiving the application.
Beginning on April 1, business owners will be able to apply for the loan here on the United Way’s website.
More information on the new loan program can be found here.
— Trolls Disrupt Kalamazoo City Commission Virtual Meeting —
The meeting on Tuesday was held via Zoom video conferencing where each comissioner was on a group video call from the comfort of their own homes during this stay at home executive order.
After bypassing the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance due to the situation, Mayor David Anderson opened the citizens comments portion, and that’s when the online trolls surfaced.
Individuals created fake names to remain anonymous and used the opportunity to disrupt the meeting, some saying vulgar language and hate speech.
In fact, at first 115 participants were lined up on the queue to speak. “This is not a productive use of public time,” said Mayor Anderson.
Commissioners spoke out, frustrated with the situation. “For those of you who are abusing this, shame on you…please stop,” Commissioner Chris Praedel stated.
City Manager Jim Ritsema said he was made aware that the Zoom link was shared on a gaming website and that’s why some individuals were interrupting.
To put an end to the commotion, commissioners passed a 90 second citizen comment period to limit the time guests were allowed to speak while conducting that virtual meeting.
In the end, the commission was able to unanimously approve the small business loan fund and they said they will look into how to address this problem for future virtual meetings.
