A letter signed by more than 50 municipal leaders, including several mayors and town administrators from the North Shore urged top statehouse officials to provide immediate relief for small businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The letter called on the state government to pass the Economic Development Bond Bill, the supplemental budget proposed by Governor Charlie Baker, and to consider other creative funding mechanisms to assist struggling businesses.
“Small businesses and the restaurant industry have been hit incredibly hard by this COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lynn Mayor Thomas M. McGee. “As we continue to see an increase in cases, additional funding is desperately needed to keep our local businesses, their employees and their families afloat through the winter.”
A $900 billion stimulus bill passed by the federal government Monday night, may provide a source of aid for these businesses. In addition to sending a $600 direct stimulus check to most Americans, and a $300 a week unemployment boost, the bill also allocated $284 billion in Paycheck Protection Program grants to hard-hit businesses.
McGee insisted that, despite the federal stimulus package, more action was still needed on a statewide level.
“This weekend we received news that a long-overdue second stimulus bill was finally passed in Washington, which does include small business relief,” he said. “However, we still need to take statewide action to support our local economy and ensure no more small businesses need to shut their doors because of the pandemic.”
The Economic Development Bond Bill supported by the signatories includes several bond authorizations and programs to help out small businesses, while the supplemental budget would further fund economic recovery and business relief through $49 million in additional small business support.
Mayors and town administrators of Lynn, Salem, Nahant, Peabody, Revere, and Swampscott all signed on to the letter, which was addressed to Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, Senate President Karen Spilka, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee Aaron Michlewitz and Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee Michael Rodrigues.
“These small business owners are not anonymous chains, but rather hardworking neighbors and friends who have been doing all they can to stay afloat in the midst of a public health crisis,” said Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll. “They need our help now because every day that goes by without relief will mean more business closures. We know that vaccine distributions will be happening soon, we just need to help folks get through to spring.”
Of the 16,000 restaurants in Massachusetts, 3,400 never re-opened after mandatory closures in the spring, and more of them close every day as the pandemic wears on.
In Salem, several restaurants, including Gulu-Gulu Cafe and Olde Main Street Pub have announced winter closures, while East Sakura Buffet closed permanently.
Nahant Town Administrator Antonio Barletta explained that those small businesses that have been struggling to adapt to government restrictions should be assisted.
“Local small businesses have done an excellent job adapting to the numerous changes that come with each reopening phase,” he said. “Many are dependent on holiday season revenues to survive the winter. If limiting their business is best for public health, then they should be provided relief for their contribution to the community.”
“In Peabody, we’ve already granted $350,000 to help 110 small businesses weather the pandemic,” said Peabody Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. “We also extended outdoor dining through next spring and waived liquor license fees to help restaurants through the difficult months ahead.
“We will continue to do everything we can at the local level but state aid is sorely needed to help keep these businesses open and their employees working.”
Guthrie Scrimgeour can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @g_scrimgeour.
