Eight Platte County businesses were awarded grants last week in the first round of approvals for the Platte County CARES Survive and Thrive small business program.

Commissioners met for a 10-minute special administrative session on Friday, July 17 to approve the recommendations of the CARES advisory committee.

Grant recipients are Twill, $10,000; Om Prana Yoga and Boutique, $22,119; KC North Spine and Joint Center, $10,000; Parkville Artisans Studio, $7,000; Cavender Conference Center, $10,000; Celtic Ranch, $9,625; Hands of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center, $9,503; and Aplomb Martial Arts of Parkville, $7,046.

Presiding commissioner Ron Schieber said the county had so far received 160 grant applications for an available $6.6 million in CARES funding.

In preliminary feedback, business owners told Schieber the application process was simple and moved quickly.

Commissioners plan to hold special administrative sessions on Fridays to approve additional grants.

Matt Webster of Gilmore and Bell said approximately 3,100 counties across the country had so far implemented small business grant programs similar to the Platte County program.

At the Monday, July 20 regular session, commissioners approved a change order for the Parkville-Riverside connector at the Missouri Riverfront Trail. The long-awaited project is set to move forward after the completion of negotiations with Burlington Northern Santa Fe for use of their right-of-way.

The county will complete construction of the trail and a fence, with Parkville picking up to cover maintenance of the connector.

Final approval of the grant agreements for the 2020 stormwater grants were also approved.