PEKIN, Ill. — The Pekin City Council Monday night approved a rule change to the COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Grants to help out other businesses.
Those businesses include hair salons, barber shops, and fitness trainers trainers that were hit hard by social distancing policies, according to City Manager Mark Rothert.
“They could not have one on one interactions with their customers,” Rothert said.
“This rule change as part of the grant process will allow those owners of those businesses to get up to $5,000 instead of the $2,000.”
Pekin rolled out the COVID-19 Small Business Assistance Grants in April, using funds from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
During public comment, one resident divulged in how Pekin is thought of as a racist town.
Rothert, Mayor Mark Luft, and several council members said that is not the case now.
Rothert said the staff for the City of Pekin is diverse.
“I myself am an Asian-American. I have African-Americans on my staff. I have Latina and Latino employees as well too. I have gay/lesbian, and LGBTQ staff members,” Rothert said.
Luft said there are changes coming and changes that are needed.
“We have that team here to make that happen, not just that area but all aspects of this community,” Luft said.
Luft said he wants residents to be proud of the city.
“We’re working hard to make it that kind of community, and we will continue to do that as long as I’m sitting here,” Luft said.
Council member Lloyd Orrick said what happened in the past is not the situation now.
“I just wish people would judge us on our actions today, instead of our actions maybe 50, 60, 70 years ago,” Orrick said.
Council member John Abel agreed.
“Things have changed, the city has changed, City Hall has changed,” Abel said.
