ROCK HILL, SC (WBTV) - Last summer Lell Trogdon was on the brink of closing her fledgling restaurant.
Thankfully, loyal customers got the word out for folks to support her community supported venture and the boost got her past the one year mark.
"We're pushing 15 months, up hill," said Trogdon.
Though she's off the chopping block for now, times are still tough
"Just because you have customers everyday doesn't mean you're turning a profit," said Trogdon.
The city of Rock Hill saw the plight of the small businesses in town and has come up with a plan to help.
This year when a business renews their business license, before the deal line in April, the city will discount 15 percent off the renewal price.
So for businesses like Lell's Café, that means that could be around $125 in savings.
The city will take a 600 thousand dollar hit, and says the initiative is to create more business stability in the city and help create more jobs.
"I applaud anyone who tries to help small businesses," said Trogdon.
But Trogdon feels from past experiences the city will get their money back through taxes somewhere else.
"I don't know how to pay the taxes that I owe it's an impossible task every day," said Trogdon.
However she says the $125 dollars extra will go to good use.
"A hundred bucks makes a difference for somebody put in a couple of extra hours for me if I needed them too, and I could pay them, maybe," said Trogdon.
So far since the city has sent out the renewal forms they've already received 25 to 30 renewals a day months ahead of the April dead line.
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