The 16 grant recipients of the first round of the Tornado Relief Emergency Fund Small Business Grants gather Tuesday with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce and Logan County Chamber of Commerce for a check presentation in front of the Sandy Beach Bridge. (EXAMINER PHOTO | Mandy Loehr)
Nearly six weeks after the F3 tornado devastated Logan County, emotions came full circle Wednesday, April 24, for the owners of 16 different businesses at Indian Lake, who were named the recipients of the first round of Tornado Relief Emergency Fund Small Business Grants.
The check presentation totaling $68,000 in this initial round, which incorporates $5,000 in unrestricted grants to be issued to each business, was hosted by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce and Logan County Chamber of Commerce during a special ceremony at LuLu’s at the Lake in Russells Point.
The grant funding was raised through the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Research and will be distributed by the Indian Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Ohio Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Steve Stivers said when he learned about these Logan County businesses affected by the March 14 disaster, he reached out to chambers of commerce in Kentucky and Hawaii to see how they were able to assist when catastrophe struck there.
Since then, $155,000 in total has been raised for the Tornado Relief Emergency Fund Small Business Grants, with grant applications currently being accepted for the second round of small business recipients.
“Today is all about you,” he said to the business owners, who were treated to a breakfast buffet served by LuLu’s. “The $5,000 isn’t going to solve all of your problems, but we want to provide a bridge to help in the immediate aftermath, before other funding becomes available. They can be used for out-of-pocket expenses needed to resume business operations.
“We wanted to be as expeditious as possible to help folks get the funds they need.”
The grants and the outpouring of support offered a tangible piece of hope for those small businesses owners struggling to pick up the pieces from the storm, some of whom also lost their own homes as well.
“We’re still fighting to get back on our feet,” said one of the recipients, Rick Stanley, owner of Stanley’s Asphalt & Sealcoating. “We lost everything, our dump trucks, pavers and rollers. We’re working to repair all of them, as the next couple months are so crucial for our paving business.
For more than 20 years, Stanley’s Asphalt & Sealcoating has been serving Logan County and the surrounding community with commercial and residential paving, seal coating and line striping.
“While it’s been a rough six weeks, we’re all pulling together,” Stanley said, noting all the neighbors helping those trapped in their houses the night of the storm and during the clean up in the days that followed. “Indian Lake has got this.”
Fellow grant recipient Catherine Allen, owner of IvyGate Flower Farm, which opened in 2022, also became emotional regarding all of the individuals who stepped up to offer practical assistance.
“We talked about the second ’tornado,’ which was all of the volunteers who came out to help.”
The boutique flower farm grows and sells environmentally-friendly flowers and other natural materials for design purposes used in weddings, events and special occasions.
Since the tornado wiped out IvyGate Flower Farm’s Lakeview facility, Allen said she initially wasn’t sure if she’d even be able to reopen since it would be a daunting task for her new business.
“But it’s been a 50-year dream of mine, and it’s very important to me,” she said, relating that she will be able to use the grant funds toward a trailer to stay in business at Indian Lake.
Indian Head Roadhouse also received a Small Business Grant Tuesday. Head waitress Wendy Brown and general manager Andi Lu shared that the Indian Lake Chamber has assisted them since day one.
Established in 2008, this lakefront restaurant is a top destination for locals and tourists alike for a casual lunch, dinner or drinks.
Brown related that grills were brought in to grill up the food from Indian Head Roadhouse right away so that it wouldn’t spoil, and then LuLu’s at the Lake was able to provide refrigeration for them as well.
“We’re not sure exactly when we’re going to be able to reopen, but we know we want to soon because people miss our blood Marys,” the head waitress said with a chuckle.
Recipient Robin Beelman, licensed massage therapist, also thanked the chambers of commerce for making this process for so unrestrictive for businesses.
“I’m located inside another business, so traditionally, I wouldn’t be able to apply for funding. But you’ve all made this so effortless. Thank you for opening your hearts and your minds,” she said through a few tears.
Beelman operates a licensed massage therapy practice through Luxe Beauty Salon in downtown Lakeview. She has been serving clients around the community for more than 20 years.
“We see the pain and the hardship going on,” Logan County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ben Vollrath said. “We wanted to get the dollars out as soon as possible.”
Fellow grant recipients Tuesday included:
• Lakeview Padrone’s Pizza – Opened in June of 2005 in Downtown Lakeview. For 19 years, they have been a local favorite for pickup and delivery of pizza across the Indian Lake region.
• Violet Salon & Spa – Yellow Violet Salon & Spa opened in 2018 and is a popular nail and beauty services salon in Russells Point.
• Indian Lake Outfitters – This 14-year-old business in Downtown Lakeview provides an outdoor skills and service shop for firearms and archery. The building is also home to “The Depot” which serves as a destination, retail, and gift shop for the Lake area.
• Oasis Drive-Thru – Lake residents and tourists alike enjoy this Downtown Lakeview drive-thru retail and liquor store for their grab-and-go needs.
• Downtown Discount Grocery – Located in Downtown Lakeview, this third-generation grocery store has been providing essential access to quality foods for the Lakeview Community for 24 years.
• Frontier Cottages – Located between Lakeview and Russells Point along State Route 366, Frontier Cottages has been providing short-term accommodations to guests visiting the Indian Lake area for 17 years.
• All Around Accounting – Co-located with Indian Lake Printing & Advertising in Downtown Lakeview with common ownership, All Around Accounting has been providing accounting and payroll services to the community since 2008.
• Indian Lake Printing & Advertising – Providing commercial design and printing services to the area since 1966.
• CJ’s Lakeside Tavern – CJ’s Lakeside Tavern is a local establishment serving the Lakeview Community in Logan County for over 14 years. For many residents, CJ’s is a safe hometown spot that provides entertainment and community.
• Wishmeyer Farms – As part of the essential agriculture industry in Logan County, an independent grain farm has been operating for 38 years just east of Indian Meadows along State Route 366 in the Indian Lake area.
• Golf Cart World – Established in 2015 near Russells Point, Golf Cart World is a community partner that provides golf cart, sales and service to Indian Lake in the surrounding area.
• ReCanvas – ReCanvas is a Logan County Indian Lake business that provides boats, golf carts, and pontoon upholstery and canvas repairs.
Businesses are invited to apply for the second wave of funding. Applications are available at https://www.visitindianlakeohio.com/ by clicking the “Small Business Grant” tab.
This grant serves as a bridge to help businesses in the immediate aftermath of the tornado and before other funding resources become available through insurance, state/federal programs, or other recovery sources.
Qualified applicants include: For profit and non-profit small business/organizations physically located in Lakeview, Russells Point, Huntsville, Washington Township, or Stokes Township who incurred direct damage to buildings and property during the March 14 tornado. Businesses that did not incur direct physical damage but suffered operational losses will also be eligible. Governmental entities are not eligible.
Electronically submit applications to office with the subject line “SMALL BUSINESS GRANT.”
For questions on the application process, call or e-mail Amber Fagan, (937) 539-6348 or office@indianlakechamber.org; or Vollrath at the Logan County Chamber, (937) 578-3563 or bvollrath@logancountyohio.com.
Ohio Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Steve Stivers speaks to the Small Business Grant recipients Tuesday morning at LuLu’s At the Lake. (EXAMINER PHOTO | Mandy Loehr)