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So many of our friends, neighbors, and family members who own and work at local businesses have been severely impacted by COVID-19. Now that businesses are gradually reopening, it is our responsibility to help ensure they can do so safely both to rebuild the economy and protect the health of their employees and customers.
That’s why I spearheaded the Reopen Montgomery business assistance program along with Council President Sidney Katz that the Council approved unanimously yesterday.
The costs of reopening are hurting already hard-hit businesses. Reopen Montgomery will provide assistance to local businesses and nonprofits of up to $5,000 to help reimburse them for the costs of items including glass barriers, contactless payment systems, cleaning supplies, signage, outdoor furniture and other expenses needed to protect employees and customers.
The Council’s $14 million appropriation to establish Reopen Montgomery comes from the County’s share of federal CARES Act funding for emergency COVID-19 response and remaining funding from the Public Health Emergency Grant (PHEG) program.
It’s also the next step in the immediate and strategic approach we’ve taken to help local businesses adapt to public health directives and keep their lights on through this extremely difficult time.
In March, we quickly created the PHEG program to provide grants to local businesses to help stem revenue losses. The PHEG program which I drafted resulted in more than 2,300 County small businesses receiving much-needed help. As the public health emergency continued through April and May and it became clear business operations will need to change for the long-term, we created the Telework Assistance Fund to help businesses with the costs of transitioning to telework operations.
We’ve continued that sustained commitment, stepping up to help offset the costs of reopening. We know our work is only a fraction of what’s needed by businesses and nonprofits that are facing unprecedented challenges. We’ll continue to stand up for our local employers who employ our friends and neighbors, sustain our local economy and support county services.
We expect more details soon from the Executive Branch as to when Reopen Montgomery will begin accepting applications. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with concerns or ideas for how to help safely recover from COVID-19 and emerge even better than before.
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