MENDOTA – The City of Mendota is putting an added emphasis on its downtown.

More specifically, businesses downtown as there have been storefront workshops, Facade Grants, beautifying the scenery, adding more community events to the calendar, and other efforts to assist existing owners, new owners, or future owners.

The next comes in the form of a $3,250 Illinois Farm Bureau Rural Development Grant as Mendota was one of 128 applicants who were rewarded.

“This grant is going to be part of our Work Well Initiative to support businesses either new, developed, or for those that want to start a business,” said Annie Short, City of Mendota project director, who added the grant is in partnership with the LaSalle County Farm Bureau and other surrounding bureaus. “People can sign up for an E-Pass. It's $25 per month and it can be used as long as they want. With it, they can sign up for services to receive support in writing a business plan, thinking about a succession plan, thinking about marketing, looking at websites for review to get recommendations for improvements. It can also be toward making a better plan because maybe the business isn't succeeding the way the owner wants.

“With the E-Pass, they'll be connected with people to have those discussions. Also, there are opportunities to network with other businesses. Not only locally, but also on a national standpoint as there are monthly networking groups to partner with.”

The benefits of the E-Pass don't stop there.

The $25 pass offers online Google certificates to business owners who want a scholarship for one or more of seven different class series for careers such as data analyst, IT security, website design, and more.

According to Short, the certificates are great for a high school student or someone who is trying to figure out what is next in life as they would only shine on a resume. She also added, the Illinois Farm Bureau group in correspondence with Mendota said Google will often post job openings where some of the people who have achieved the certificates are hired through Google.

It may be weird or different, but although the grant is through the state's farm bureau, the grant has nothing to do with agriculture directly.

“The purpose of the farm bureau grant is to build economic development within their regions recognizing it's a rural area,” Short said. “The reason we were nominated is because, yes we want to support our farmers, but we also know having other economic value in the area supports our local farmers as well.

“We want people to succeed. Whether it's starting a business, bringing a business, or keeping a business in Mendota, it's important that we're supportive. The City of Mendota is really committed to bringing businesses into our town. We want businesses to succeed.

“It's amazing how many people want to start a business, but unfortunately, they don't know how to start a business. They'll just buy a building and not really have a plan in place or not have a marketing plan. It's one thing to open your doors, but you still have to do the outreach to get people in your doors. Sometimes people don't have a plan in place and if their business isn't successful, they often think it's because the city didn't support it.”

Although it isn't the city’s job to fully support a business, it is its job to give resources and assistance.

The City of Mendota realizes business owners and the abandoned downtown buildings need more aid than ever.

“This is critical for us to help business owners understand we do want to support them. We do want them to succeed, but we can only do so much as a city.,” Short said. “For the business owner, it takes work to have a business. But if we can provide supportive services for them, that is a positive thing for us as a city to do. We are hoping to use it as a marketing tool to try to get more businesses here to show we're not just about filling space. We're about really investing in them as a business owner and their business to make sure it succeeds.”

To receive the grant, the City of Mendota had to agree to pay for the membership services. The $25 per month E-Pass fee is some of the charge with the city footing the rest of the bill.

City administrators wanted to keep the business owner's cost minimal while having them still invest in their growth.

“You can open a store any day. The store staying open depends on the work put into it to make sure people know you're there and you're available the hours you say you will be,” Short said. “You have to recognize the first couple of years are not the easiest. The business plans are really critical to make sure things are being put into place to help the owners succeed.”

To find out more information about the E-Pass, go to workwellmendota.com. Also, the E-Pass is on Mendota.il.us under the projects tab.

Email Short at ashort@mendotacity.com to let her know you're interested in the E-Pass and to get the sign-up process underway.