The end could be near for a Central Illinois transportation company, calling on the state to help budget shortfalls affected by COVID-19.

Peoria Charter Coach Owner Bill Winkler said he's facing a $90,000 bus licensing fee at the end of Oct. If the state does not step in, he will have to close his Peoria doors for good.

The BIG grant that Winkler hopes to get ranges from $5,000 to $150,000, and Winkler said he has yet to hear from the state after turning in his application two weeks ago.

So far, Peoria Charter has received a $1.2 million bailout from the government to stay afloat, but Winkler said he used that money to hire back as many employees as he could.

However, after three months of paying employees, he ran out of the money, forcing him to reduce his staff from 130 to 30.