Chandler has awarded $30,000 to help local businesses cover the cost of personal protective equipment and the city has another $170,000 earmarked for the coronavirus grant program.
Mika Otomo’s family owns Shimogamo Japanese Restaurant in Chandler. They received the maximum grant of $500.
“Anything helps,” she said. “I think all of us are just desperately searching for anything to make us survive.”
Between April and June 2019, Otomo said they spent less than $400 on gloves and sanitary goods. During the same period this year, she said they spent more than $1,600.
“It is a big chunk of money for us because we are only doing takeout right now,” she said.
Otomo said sales are 60% of normal but they feel fortunate because she often hears about other restaurants being forced to close permanently.
Shimogamo had remodeling expansion plans before the pandemic and the family is using this time to move forward. But when dine-in service resumes, Otomo expects the new space will not result in more tables because of social distancing.
As of July 29, 2020, Chandler had awarded 63 grants. Applications are for private, for-profit businesses located within the city limits and have no more than 100 employees and are registered with the city.
