WHEELING — Wheeling artist Vondel Bell just completed a mural project at Bridge Street Middle School, and he was all set to begin other projects in the coming weeks.

Then the coronavirus outbreak happened, and all the work and potential income was put on hold for the time being.

Bell is not alone in that many artists and others who work independently in small businesses aren’t seeing income.

Wheeling Heritage announced last week it would make COVID-19 Emergency Grants available to local professional working artists, entertainers and small business owners who have had a loss of income due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The group now has awarded a cumulative $25,000 to 41 recipients. Recipients received up to $1,000, and priority was given to those with immediate needs of shelter, food and other essentials, according to Alex Weld, incoming executive director of Wheeling Heritage.

“While we realize this isn’t a huge amount of money for each recipient, we know that right now, times are tough for Wheeling’s artists, entertainers and small business owners, so we are doing what we can to help,” she said.

Due to an overwhelming number of applications, the organization exhausted its grant budget for the year, according to Weld. Wheeling Heritage, though, is accepting donations to continue this grant program at wheelingheritage.org/donate. All of the money raised will go to future grant recipients.

Many of the recipients, because they are self-employed, are not eligible for unemployment benefits.

“This money means a lot to me,” Bell said. “With everything going on right now, it has put a lot of things I had going on on hold.

“This money will help me stay afloat while all this is going on. I use it to order materials, and for food.”

Bell’s project at Sherrard Middle School is among those that have been delayed. He was also set to do a painting for the upcoming Mel Blount Dinner in Pittsburgh, but that event was canceled and he is to do the painting next year.

Blount has commissioned Bell to do a personal painting for him in the interim.