Will County Gazette

Businesses owned by three Frankfort-area brothers who donated over $12,000 to Mayor Keith Ogle's campaigns received $100,000 in COVID-19 relief grants, including $60,000 for a now-defunct company tied to the family. 

That's according to an analysis of public records conducted by Will County Gazette.

John, Martin, and Tim Cosgrove, who own several businesses in the Frankfort area, contributed $12,200 to Ogle’s mayoral campaigns since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. 

According to the Illinois Department of Commerce, businesses in the creative arts, restaurants and hotels categories that experienced financial loss due to the pandemic were eligible for grants ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 through the state's Back to Business Grant Program (B2B).  

In 2022, the Cosgroves' businesses received a combined $100,000 in COVID-19 relief funds through the program. Among those businesses is the now-defunct Aberdeen VI LLC, a former catering company, which received $60,000 via B2B before its business license was terminated on June 27, 2024, according to the Illinois Secretary of State's records. John Cosgrove was listed as one of its officers, according to the same public records.

Another Cosgrove business, Trails Edge Brewing Company, owned by Martin Cosgrove, received $40,000 from B2B.

Ogle’s own audio visual equipment rental company, Hoffman Productions, which does business as "PLUS ONE AV," was awarded the maximum B2B grant of $150,000. Additionally, $15,000 more was awarded to Ogle's company via Will County's Small Business Grant program.

The B2B program distributed a total of $1.5 billion in economic relief throughout the state, according to a press release from Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-Ill.). 

Between 2005 and 2023, Illinois State Board of Elections data shows that John Cosgrove contributed $6,175 in non-federal political donations, including $500 to Ogle’s campaigns in 2018. Cosgrove Construction Inc., an active company owned by Timothy Cosgrove, contributed $2,500 on March 3, 2025; $2,500 on September 24, 2024; $2,500 on April 12, 2024; $1,500 on September 26, 2023; $1,000 on March 28, 2023; and $1,000 on October 20, 2020. Tim Cosgrove personally donated $200 on February 28, 2021, and $500 on October 20, 2020.

Ogle is seeking a second term as Frankfort Mayor in the April 1, 2025, election. He was first elected in 2021, succeeding Jim Holland, who served as mayor for 16 years. Before becoming mayor, Ogle served as Frankfort Village Clerk beginning in 2013 and as a Village Trustee from 2015 to 2021. 

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Cosgrove's campaign contributions to the Committee to Elect Keith Ogle 

Entity	Date	Contribution	Recipient	Source
John Cosgrove	9/26/18	$250	Committee to elect Keith Ogle	IL State Board of Elections
John Cosgrove	2/7/18	$250	Committee to elect Keith Ogle	IL State Board of Elections
Cosgrove Construction	3/3/25	$2,500	Committee to elect Keith Ogle	IL State Board of Elections
Cosgrove Construction	9/24/24	$2,500	Committee to elect Keith Ogle	IL State Board of Elections
Cosgrove Construction	4/12/24	$2,500	Committee to elect Keith Ogle	IL State Board of Elections
Cosgrove Construction	9/26/23	$1,500	Committee to elect Keith Ogle	IL State Board of Elections
Cosgrove Construction	3/28/23	$1,000	Committee to elect Keith Ogle	IL State Board of Elections
Cosgrove Construction	10/20/20	$1,000	Committee to elect Keith Ogle	IL State Board of Elections
Timothy Cosgrove	2/28/21	$200	Committee to elect Keith Ogle	IL State Board of Elections
Timothy Cosgrove	10/20/20	$500	Committee to elect Keith Ogle	IL State Board of Elections
Total		$12,200

Source: Illinois State Board of Elections