EDITORIAL: Small businesses need our support

Published 11:30 am Saturday, April 18, 2020

The global coronavirus pandemic is impacting nearly every aspect of our lives. The shelter in place orders have shut down numerous businesses and forced others that remain open to significantly alter how they operate. 

While big-box operations are able to adjust more readily because they have a bigger pool of resources, more small business operations aren’t able to shift that easily. Many small business retailers have been able to move to curbside delivery, drive-thru service and meeting customer needs by appointment only, but that requires a lot. 

Our small businesses are being hit hard. They need our support now more than ever. 

The federal resources made available to support them during this time unfortunately haven’t reached everyone. Almost $350 billion in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans Congress passed last month as part of a $2.2 trillion package has run out, as has a $10 billion SBA program meant to get fast cash to affected businesses, according to reports. In Georgia, state Chamber of Commerce CEO Chris Clark said this week that the SBA has approved loans to more than 30,000 Georgia businesses worth more than $7 billion, but many companies have been left out because they don’t meet the criteria, he said. 

Many of these left in the dark are businesses that we all interact with every day. These businesses help sustain Milledgeville and Baldwin County and help keep the local community going. They support the community throughout the year and they need our support as well. 

When the dust settles and we begin adjusting to whatever our “new normal” may be, reality is, some of these businesses won’t be around unless we support them now. 

According to results of a March U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey, 43 percent of business owners believe they have less than six months contingency (including 1 in 10 that say they have less than one month) before they have to permanently shut their doors.

Pick up drive-thru when you can, order delivery, purchase gift cards from a local business, order items from a local business online. Leave a positive review on a review site such as Yelp if you’ve had a particularly great experience. Do what you can when you can. 

Remember that these small business owners not only contribute to the lifeblood of the local economy, but they also give back to the community they serve mightily through volunteer hours and contributions and sponsorships to numerous causes.

Now is the time for us to reciprocate by supporting them to help make sure they are around for us in the future.