Lyon County Lend-A-Hand COVID-19 Grant Program receives Economic Development Award

Receiving the Beyond Expectations Economic Development Support Award was the Lyon County Lend-A-Hand COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program with 20 Lyon County organizations contributing funds to the effort. As COVID-19 last March led to business closures, businesses impacted were left in shock, confused and fearful of an unknown future. Twenty partners mobilized to raise funds, 81 county COVID-19 impacted small businesses applied and received assistance to get them through the early months of COVID-19 closures.

Recognized by Northwest Iowa Development (NWID) for the Lyon County Lend-A-Hand COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program are Brad Rypkema, Rock Rapids Development Corporation and Foundation president, Micah Freese, Rock Rapids Development Corporation Director, Mark Behrens, Lyon County Supervisor Chairman, Steve Simons, NWID Chairperson, and Jared Vander Sanden, Lyon County Economic Development Consortium Vice-Chairman. They represent three of the 20 organizations that participated in the program.