Due to the generosity of so many, a total of $128,525 in assistance was provided through the Business Assistance Program that was set up in early May. In total, 57 businesses/non-profits throughout Jasper County received financial assistance through the program. Recipients filled out an application requesting assistance, providing documentation showing what their rent/mortgage and utility bills for April were.
To apply a business had to be an independent, locally owned business in Jasper County with under 25 employees, and had not received another form of assistance from the state or federal government. Many of the businesses had been ordered closed for an extended period of time due to COVID-19.
Representatives from the City of Newton, Jasper County Economic Development Corporation, Jasper Community Foundation, and the Newton Development Corporation reviewed the applications and issued checks on May 29. A second check was issued to those businesses on June 19.
Applications were received from Baxter, Colfax, Kellogg, Lynnville, Monroe, Newton, Prairie City, Reasnor, and Sully.
