Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Portales approves relief funds resolution

PORTALES — Help is on the way.

At Tuesday night’s Portales City Council meeting, a resolution was approved granting COVID-19 relief funds to local businesses hurt by the pandemic and the economic freefall resulting from it.

Two dozen businesses applied for $180,800 of grant money, with 14 selected by two committees — one that reviewed the applications, and the Economic Development Finance Review Committee that reviewed the first committee’s findings and made recommendations accordingly.

The 14 businesses selected to divide the grant money were: Angel Ministries; Hair Haven Salon; Dawg House; Snap Fitness; Holiday Inn Express; Super 8 Motel; Wild ’bout Kids Child Care Center; Glen’s Garage & Auto Sales; El Rancho Restaurant; Portales Country Club; Print Shop; A&A Plumbing and Septic Services; Big Valley Automotive; and Fitness & More.

The total grant money available was $400,000, which is where the council approved a second resolution. That is a measure authorizing a second round of COVID-19 economic relief program applications with the remaining $219,200.

“So there is money left that they could apply for if those businesses are eligible and make a good application,” Portales City Clerk Joan Martinez-Terry said. “I don’t know if (the committees) would grant the rest of the money, but they have that much left to work with.”

The city sent out a release Thursday detailing the relief program’s second round. According to the release, assistance is only intended to provide businesses with immediate, short-term cash flow assistance between March 17 and May 31, and cannot be used for any debts incurred prior to the state’s March 17 public health order.

Applications are available at portalesnm.gov and must be submitted with required documentation to [email protected] by noon June 24. Award notifications will begin July 3.

The council also approved ratification of a pair of actions — one by City Manager Sammy Standefer to authorize a New Mexico Department of Transportation grant, the other by Mayor Ron Jackson to approve a CARES Act related amendment on an agreement between the city and the state’s Department of Transportation.

The council’s next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. June 16.