Salt Lake City leaders took their first steps to help rebuild the four Main Street businesses damaged by fire โ Whiskey Street, White Horse, Los Tapatios and London Belle. An emergency loan fund, $600,000 total, which was approved on Tuesday, would provide up to $100,000 per business for short-term support.
“That would go towards the continuing operation of the business in whatever location in Salt Lake City,” Chris Wharton, city council chairman, said. The terms include no-interest loans with a five-year repayment period. The City Council also approved funding for safety barricades along Main Street that will allow for better pedestrian flow around the damaged buildings.
The third initiative is a Main Street Employee Rental Assistance Program, though the vote was postponed for another day. The Downtown Alliance has raised nearly $500,000 to help the hundreds of employees impacted by the fire. The City Council’s measure provide additional aid. “The impact is felt throughout our downtown and that’s why we need to move so quickly to respond,” Wharton said.
