A newly opened mercantile store in Viola, Illinois, that offers a touch of the past has been awarded a grant by a Quad Cities area bank.
Blackhawk Bank & Trust, in collaboration with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, this week announced that Prairie Crossroads Mercantile has been awarded the Community First Accelerate Grant for Small Business.
The Accelerate Grant is part of an initiative designed to create economic opportunities for small businesses in the communities served by FHLBank Chicago member institutions.
“We are thrilled to present this grant to such a deserving local business,” Angie Bigham, vice president and loan officer at Blackhawk Bank & Trust, said in a news release. “Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and through this partnership with FHLBank Chicago, we can make meaningful investments that drive growth and opportunity in our communities.”
Prairie Crossroads Mercantile has revitalized the historic Viola Opera House, transforming it into a community hub. The space offers a range of locally grown and produced goods, including farm-fresh products, clothing, candles, gifts, sweets, and other unique finds, creating a vibrant marketplace for the community.
The grand opening for the mercantile store was held Saturday, Oct. 26.
“We are excited and appreciative to have received this grant. As a new business that is continuing to expand our offerings in a small community, we will now be able to add a commercial kitchen quicker than we had anticipated, so we can add an expanded selection of foods to the community and bring additional commerce to Viola,” said Jackie Burns, owner of the Prairie Crossroads Mercantile.
Blackhawk Bank & Trust, headquartered in Milan, offers a full range of business, personal, online banking, and trust services to the residents of Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties in Illinois and Scott County in Iowa. It was founded in 1961 in Milan.
