THE FOLLOWING IS A TREP SCHOOL RELEASE
The Trep School® is taking applications for Broadband Grants for businesses. Forty businesses located in Vermilion County can receive up to $500 each towards upgrading their internet service to fiber broadband or towards hosting their business website.
To be eligible the business or business owner’s residence must be in Vermilion County. In addition, the business owner must complete a 360-Degree Business Assessment and follow up growth planning session with The Trep School®.
The $20,000 in funds for the broadband grants were provided by the Vermilion County Board to Vermilion Advantage as matching funds for the Economic Empowerment Center grant Vermilion Advantage received from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Vermilion Advantage contracted The Trep School® to provide the programming for the grant.
“When the need for matching funds arose, it was important to all of us that we use the matching funds to provide resources to local businesses,” said Tricia Teague, founder of The Trep School® and Danville alderwoman. “We know that having a website is critical for any business, and that business efficiency can be hampered by slow internet. These grants can help these businesses be more competitive, which ultimately can have an overall positive impact on our local economic development efforts.”
To be eligible for the grants, business owners must live or have their business located in Vermilion County. Additionally, they must complete an IRS W-9, an application, and 360° Business Assessment and growth plan with The Trep School®. Once eligibility has been determined, The Trep School® and Vermilion Advantage will coordinate with the business owner to provide the funds directly to the vendor on the business’s behalf.
For more information or to apply, go to the website www.TheTrepSchool.com and select Broadband Grant in the menu or contact The Trep School at 217-497-9227.
# # # #
