Mission Viejo Businesses Getting Much Needed Relief

MISSION VIEJO, CA —Mission Viejo small business owners are seeing a bit of relief after months of waiting for assistance, Patch has learned. Business owners who have already put in applications but have not yet received a dose of small business relief are

Last month, the city authorized an additional$350,000 for businesses who applied for the Mission Viejo Business Relief Grant Program but were not chosen. That allocation might help some businesses be able to stay, rather than close up shop in Mision Viejo, councilmember Ed Sachs said at the Feb. 9 meeting.

In round one, the city distributed $500,000 in relief money to 27 small businesses, Voice of OC reports. Still, 30 more business owners awaited assistance of any kind. Cindy Gold, of Golden Skin and Lashes, was one of several businesses that applied but had not received any funding as of early February.

In Mission Viejo, Golden Skin and Lashes, in the Mission Viejo Marketplace, was forced to close its doors during the coronavirus pandemic. Like many in the beauty industry, it was not considered an "essential business."

"Every time I applied I was denied," Golden told Patch. "The response was always 'we already gave away all of the money." Golden reached out to fellow business owners, but all were in the same boat.

"It's frustrating because we feel like the city is telling small businesses to apply, and yet there are no funds to be had," she told us. Golden was one of the businesses that received a round of funding this time around. Thankfully, small business loans were available to keep her afloat. Her estheticians were laid off, and she did not qualify for PPP loans, as she was not allowed to be open for much of the pandemic.

Now, a small financial boost will help, though it won't cover all of the expenses she's incurred in attempting to keep her doors open.

Mission Viejo Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Buckman discussed that funding was a "great way" to reach out to businesses who already applied.

Patch has requested a full list of all businesses that have received grants from the county and will update this report when that is received.

Read: Staying Essential Amid Coronavirus Closure In Mission Viejo | Mission Viejo, CA Patch