The Annex Restaurant & Lounge in Lake in the Hills has received the first-ever ALERT Fund grant to help cover the cost of repairs to a business after an overnight break-in left the business with more than $1,200 in damages.
The Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber Foundation announced the ALERT (Algonquin Lake in the Hills Emergency Recovery Team) Fund can provide rapid, small grants to help locally impacted businesses cover unexpected costs from incidents such as vandalism, theft, fire, flood, or other damage.
By delivering quick, flexible support, the ALERT Fund helps business owners stabilize operations, keep staff employed, and reopen their doors to the community, officials said.
“We’re proud to stand with the business owners who invest here, serve our community, and employ our neighbors,” said Greg Urban, executive director of the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce. “When incidents like this occur, we step up to help bridge the gap and show that this community has their back.”
According to a release, burglars smashed in a door to the business in the 2100 block of Algonquin Road in Lake in the Hills, and an attempt was made to steal the gaming ATM earlier this month.
“They may have broken into our restaurant, but they didn’t steal our flavor,” said Peter Alevras, owner of The Annex Restaurant & Lounge. “Come try our great food and intriguing slots. We’ve got the heaviest ATM’s around!”
The ALERT fund is designed to provide emergency micro-grants to help businesses recover from damage and disruption.
In addition, the Chamber is asking residents to patronize The Annex Restaurant & Lounge in the coming days and weeks to show support.