DU QUOIN (WSIL) -- As temperatures start to heat up, so does the business for ice cream shops. With COVID-19 putting a real chill on cash flow, owners are looking for option.
Ye Olde Country Store - Ice Cream & Fudge Shoppe in Du Quoin said they normally sees an increase in business this time a year, which helps them climb out of the winter losses when demand drops.
"Most of our stuff is foot traffic," said Country Store owner Travis Williams. "Days like today; it's nice, it's sunny, 80, a little bit of a breeze -- that's about the perfect day for us."
And after holding on through the winter waiting for this weather, now they are waiting in hopes they qualify for financial assistance.
"We're kinda trying to hold off the debts that we have, and wait to see if we can get any supplemental income so that we don't end up going under as far as debt goes by the time we can reopen," said Williams. They have applied for grants and loans, and they are working with their creditors on deferments, but not knowing when they will open their doors to customers again makes planning ahead nearly impossible.
Illinois University Carbondale's Economic and Business Development Director Greg Bouhl said, there are a few programs available from the Small Business Administration for situations just like this.
"One is the Economic Injury Disaster Loan," said Bouhl. "And while there is 'loan' in that title, there is some money that businesses can get that doesn't have to be repaid, up to $10,000 on that program."
Bouhl said much more information on how to protect a small business during this time is available in a webinar geared specifically towards small business resources for COVID-19 programs. He said the situation is continually evolving with information changing each week.
The sessions take place over Zoom and the COVID-19 programs and resources for Illinois small businesses topics include; Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Payroll Protection Program, Small Business Debt Relief and several others.
To register and receive an invite for the 3 p.m., April 14th session, , on .
"A lot of people are concern that their business won't be able to survive too much longer, and we don't know when all of this is going to end and restrictions lift so customers can start shopping in their doors again," said Bouhl. "That's the hardest thing right now, is just knowing when will things pick back up again."
