Erlanger officials have launched a $1.2 million COVID-19 relief effort to help small- and medium-sized businesses — the largest business assistance program in Northern Kentucky.
Approved by Erlanger City Council this week, the Erlanger Business Relief Program will be funded through 2020 federal CARES Act dollars.
Erlanger mayor Jessica Fette notes in an emailed statement that the city’s revenue is up 7% compared to this time last year, providing the budget room to implement a relief program.
"We have had a tremendous amount of economic development through a number of diversified industries investing in the city and we have been very strategic with our spending,” Fette says. “So, in spite of this being a very difficult year, our fiscal outlook is strong, which is how we can offer this program to our businesses."
Fette says that to determine the best program model, Erlanger officials connected with leaders in other cities that had implemented successful relief programs, including Covington and Independence.
Erlanger business owners struggling with the financial fallout from the coronavirus can learn how to apply for relief on the city's website.
