<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584468896974.jpeg" alt="Bogey's is one of the local businesses that will receive a HIRE Fund loan. Photo courtesy the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Bogeys-250383960006/">Bogey's</a> Facebook page." />
 <figcaption>Bogey's is one of the local businesses that will receive a HIRE Fund loan. Photo courtesy the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Bogeys-250383960006/">Bogey's</a> Facebook page.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – Within 48 hours of Governor Laura Kelly announcing the establishment of the Hospitality Industry Relief Emergency (HIRE) Fund, all $5 million allocated for the loan program have been awarded.“The hospitality industry in Kansas was one of the first to be hit financially by the COVID-19 crisis,” Governor Kelly said. “Department of Commerce Secretary David Toland and the teams at Commerce and NetWork Kansas moved swiftly to stand up the&nbsp;HIRE&nbsp;Fund program and process applications in a short period to help us quickly get these critical dollars into the hands of hospitality businesses across the state.”The initial response to the&nbsp;HIRE&nbsp;Fund program was overwhelming. More than 1,400 applications for funding were received, with more than 800 submitted within 24 hours of the program being announced.In total, 344 Kansas hospitality businesses will receive&nbsp;HIRE&nbsp;Fund loans. In the Kansas City metro area, $2 million will be distributed amongst 136 businesses; in Sedgwick County, $1 million will be distributed to 68 companies; and across the rest of the state, $2 million will be distributed to 140 businesses.“We know that many Kansas businesses are struggling right now, and we know that $5 million doesn’t come close to making up the losses that the hospitality industry and others have and will continue to incur,” Secretary Toland said. “But anything we can do – no matter how big or how small – to infuse dollars into Kansas businesses to help them make payroll, pay their electric bills or meet their mortgage obligations, we’re going to do it.”The&nbsp;HIRE&nbsp;Fund, which was announced Friday, offers Kansas hospitality businesses including event and convention centers, restaurants, bars and lodging facilities one-time, zero-interest loans up to $20,000. The program is administered by NetWork Kansas, a non-profit with a system of small business loan underwriters across 64 Kansas counties.“Standing up a new loan fund within a matter of days wouldn’t have been possible without our partners at NetWork Kansas,” Secretary Toland said. “Their team spent hours over the weekend processing and responding to the hundreds of applications received, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support to get these dollars quickly into the hands of those who need it most right now.”Local and area businesses that are recipients of the HIRE Fund loans include the following.DICKINSON COUNTYAbilene's Victorian, LLC, AbileneOrtus Cafe, Inc. Abilene,ELLSWORTH COUNTYMugs’s Downtown Bohemian Bakery, EllsworthMARION COUNTYHistoric Elgin Hotel, MarionWagon Wheel Express, Marion MCPHERSON COUNTYFive Loaves LLC, McPhersonREPUBLIC COUNTYWood Shop Pizza and Coffee, BellevilleSALINE COUNTYBlue Skye Brewery and Eats, SalinaBogey's Inc., SalinaDDR Concepts LLC dba Martinelli's Little Italy, SalinaTapi Ratan Hospitality LLC, SalinaWhile there are no funds currently available, applications are still be accepted should future dollars for the&nbsp;HIRE&nbsp;Fund be made available. Hospitality businesses should visit&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fkansascommerce.gov%2Fhirefund&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C3de59ffb7d834a6ed5c808d7d0326122%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637206787101285302&amp;sdata=k4hhE21KNzU17ve9SRDShnJy3sk7j5IjxaDcAXFUIM8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://kansascommerce.gov/hirefund</a>&nbsp;to complete their application.&nbsp;Businesses also can apply for federal disaster loan assistance up to $2 million through the U.S. Small Business Administration at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdisasterloan.sba.gov%2Fela&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C3de59ffb7d834a6ed5c808d7d0326122%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637206787101285302&amp;sdata=0QBnoeHHq0B7baFL2zSODY3xvlslTx2uxJhb2kudkzk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela</a>.

Local, area businesses among HIRE loan recipients