kim_reynolds_lt-_governor_of_iowa-213x300-3

Governor Kim Reynolds has reopened the Iowa Small Business Relief Program for businesses that had to close following her recent public health proclamation.

Reynolds made the announcement during a press conference Wednesday, her first since ordering the temporary closure of all bars, breweries, taverns, and nightclubs in six counties, including Dallas on August 27th. Eligible businesses can receive a one-time grant of up to $10,000. Reynolds says she hopes to have the application process running by next week.

The public health proclamation focuses on areas where the State has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases in 18 to 24-year-olds as college students returned to campus in recent weeks. Dallas is the only county listed in the proclamation that doesn’t have a four-year college or university. Reynolds discusses what went into the decision to include Dallas County in her proclamation, “A lot of it had to do with the proximity to Polk. Because literally on one side of the street you’re in Polk County, and on the other side, you’re in Dallas County. So what we’ll do is, and this is what we’ve done all along; every day, we monitor the numbers and watch where they’re at. On a weekly basis, we’ll take a look at it and start to see if we’re starting to see a flattening of the curve if we’re starting to see a response in the numbers. Then we’ll either make the decision on whether to dial back or if we even have to do more, which I don’t think we will.”

According to the state coronavirus dashboard, as of Wednesday, Dallas County has 2,395 positive COVID-19 cases, 48% of those in adults between 18-40.