A strip club, churches and a casino in southwest Illinois got federal coronavirus loans
From a strip club and churches to hospitals and casinos, an eclectic mix of businesses across southwestern Illinois received forgivable loans from the federal government’s coronavirus stimulus package.
As much as $1 billion from the Paycheck Protection Program went to 7,590 metro-east businesses and nonprofits to help them weather economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Practically any private sector entity was eligible for the loan program, including religious institutions, private schools, a casino and a strip club. Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club in Washington Park received between $350,000 and $1 million, which will allow the club to save 42 jobs, according to federal data.
Casino Queen in East St. Louis got top dollar with a loan between $2 million and $5 million, but did not specify how many jobs the loan allowed them to save.
The United States Treasury only provided ranges of loan amounts, from $150,000 to $350,000, $350,000 to $1 million, $1-$2 million, $2-$5 million and $5-$10 million, making it difficult to determine exactly how much businesses received. The Treasury specified the value of loans below $150,000, but did not provide business names at that level.
A searchable database for metro-east businesses is available at https://bit.ly/3iDzgD1.
Hundreds of metro-east law firms did well, with 217 receiving loans. Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, an East St. Louis nonprofit that provides legal services to low-income seniors, received from $1-$2 million.
Two law firms with metro-east locations fell into the $2-$5 million category.
HeplerBroom Law Firm, which has offices in Edwardsville, Chicago, Missouri and Indiana, employs dozens of attorneys who specialize in practice areas that include white-collar criminal defense, pharmaceutical litigation and environmental law, according to their website.
The loan did not help retain any jobs at HeplerBroom, according to the data.
Edwardsville-based Gori Law Firm received a loan in the same range, allowing them to retain 194 jobs. The firm specializes in asbestos lung disease and mesothelioma lawsuits.
Most full-service restaurants received smaller loans ranging from $2,200 to $149,000, while 30 were approved for amounts between $150,000 and $350,000. Four secured loans in the $350,000 to $1 million range: Bella Milano in Edwardsville, Lotawata Creek in Fairview Heights, 800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen in Edwardsville and a McDonald’s franchise management group based in Waterloo.
Nearly 250 churches received money, with all but 34 getting less than $150,000. Eight churches received between $350,000 and $1 million.
Private schools were also approved for millions of dollars, with three seeing between $350,000 and $1 million each: Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville and Mater Dei Catholic High School in Breese.
Fifteen nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities received between $350,000 and $1 million.
Only eight companies in the metro-east received the top loan dollar amount between $5 million to 10 million:
Alton Steel, Inc.
GRP Mechanical Company, Inc.
Earl L. Henderson Trucking Company
Metro East Industries, Inc.
Touchette Regional Hospital
IMI Management, Inc.
MHF Holdings, Inc.
Truck Centers, Inc.
