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Downtown West Palm Beach businesses receiving infusion of cash

'It's huge for us. It's a lifeline,' restaurant owner says
Posted at 7:06 PM, Jan 06, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-07 00:22:54-05

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — More money is being made available to businesses to pay rent in downtown West Palm Beach through the Downtown Development Authority.

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"We're keeping downtown West Palm Beach open as much as we possibly can," said Teneka Feaman of the DDA.

This week, the DDA allocated another $100,000 for the grant program, which has so far assisted 22 downtown businesses.

"It is not a loan. It is a grant. The maximum of money over six months, it would be $15,000," Feaman said.

Teneka Feaman, Associate Executive Director for the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority
Teneka Feaman, associate executive director for the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, said the money being distributed to businesses are grants and not loans.

"It's huge for us. It's a lifeline," said Melanie Hackman, owner of Aioli, a breakfast and lunch restaurant on Olive Avenue.

Hackman said the grant has enabled her to stay open during the pandemic and keep her employees on the payroll.

Melanie Hackman, owner of Aioli restaurant
Melanie Hackman, owner of Aioli restaurant in West Palm Beach, says the grant has enabled her to stay open during the pandemic.

"Not having to worry about how many cups of coffee I have to sell or how many sandwiches I have to cover that has been fantastic and given us a little bit of breathing room," Hackman said.

Downtown West Palm Beach businesses can apply for the grant by clicking here.