CLEVELAND — The civil unrest that ultimately resulted in looting and vandalism in downtown Cleveland on May 30 cost businesses in the are approximately $6.3 million, Downtown Cleveland Alliance CEO Joe Marinucci told the Cuyahoga County Board during a board of control meeting on Monday.
That figure, which includes an estimated $3.38 million in property damage and nearly $3 million in revenue loss due to closures, has been submitted to the Downtown Cleveland Alliance Fund, which was established to help businesses recover. According to Cuyahoga County deputy chief economic development officer Paul Herdeg, the DCA Fund has received 103 applications, including 88 from businesses and 15 from property owners.
With an estimated $2.07 million in damages not covered by insurance, the DCA Fund is expected to pay out $1.439 million, with the Cuyahoga County Board of Control having approved an additional $300,000 in funding. No more than $50,000 will go to any one individual business, with announcements regarding which businesses will receive funding later this week.
On May 30, a demonstration was held in downtown Cleveland regarding the killing of George Floyd, who died while in police custody on Memorial Day. While initially peaceful, the protest soon turned violent with businesses in the area being vandalized and looted.