Rio Nuevo decides against second round of business assistance

The Rio Nuevo Board held a meeting earlier Tuesday afternoon to discuss the COVID-19 stimulus response.

COVID-19 STIMULUS RESPONSE.THAT'S THE TOPIC DISCUSSED --AT THE RIO NUEVO BOARD MEETINGTHIS AFTERNOON.

THE GROUP --LAUNCHED A FUNDING ASSISTANCEPROGRAM -- FOR STRUGGLINGBUSINESSES -- ON APRIL 8TH.1-HUNDRED-5 BUSINESSESRECEIVED RELIEF FUNDING --WITH GRANTS RANGING -- FROM 5TO 50- THOUSAND DOLLARS.

BUTTHAT DIDN'T INCLUDE -- SERVICERELATED BUSINESSES.

THE OWNERSASKED FOR A SECOND ROUND - FORTHEIR SURVIVAL.

THE BOARDTODAY DECIDING -- AGAINST THATSECOND ROUND --- BECAUSE THEYDON'T WANT TO DEPLETE THEIRFUNDS.

"YOU KNOW WE'REOBVIOUSLY NOT FLUSH WITH CASHWE REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT OURMERCHANTS AND 1 MILLION 3 ANDCHANGE THAT WE JUSTDISTRIBUTED, OBVIOUSLY IT'SNOT COMING FROM A FLUSHORGANIZATION WE ACHIEVE THATBY BASICALLY DEFERRING OTHERPROJECTS, BUT YOU KNOW IT'SIMPORTANT TO US TO ALL OF OURMERCHANTS SURVIVE THIS." OTHERTOPICS OF TODAY'S MEETINGINCLUDED AN UPDATE ON THE LOT"A" GARAGE PROJECT -- AT THETUCSON CONVENTION CENTER.

THEYALSO DISCUSSED THE 75 EASTBROADWAY PROJECT.PIMA COUNTY