TACOMA, Wash. — Small business owners in Pierce County forced to shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic are getting desperate for help to survive.
“We’re were hoping that we would be able to open again on the fifth of May,” said Susan Leeming, owner of High Maintenance Spa and Salon in Tacoma. “Given the governor’s speech yesterday, we’re not sure.”
Leeming said she's luckier than a lot of small business owners. While her shop is closed her husband is still working so they have an income. But as the coronavirus shutdown drags on she's losing money. She applied for a federal program that was supposed to help small businesses but that didn't pan out.
“They did say we’ll only contact you if we have questions and we didn’t hear anything from them. And then I guess they ran out of money,” said Leeming.
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Now, Pierce County is offering help for small businesses.
“It’s called the Pierce County COVID-19 Emergency Small Business Relief Loan Program,” said Pierce County Council member Dave Morell.
Morell, who is also a small business owner, said the county expanded its original plan from unincorporated areas to include help for cities where most of the county’s small businesses operate.
“Number one priority is giving back to our small businesses in a way that keeps them, you know, a glimmer of hope,” said Morell.
People working for businesses shuttered because of the pandemic are also in need. Beginning Wednesday renters in Tacoma who are off the job and short of cash can apply for help from the city. Tacoma unveiled a new aid program that will pay $1,000 toward rent for people left unemployed. The city has $1.2 million to provide aid. But even that won't cover everyone needing help.
“We are assuming that we’ll probably receive more applications than we’ll have the ability to fund at this point so we are looking at distributing those funds through a lottery,” said Tacoma’s assistant director of Neighborhood and Community Services, Allyson Griffith.
Renters can apply for help at this website.
Pierce County small business owners wishing to apply for aid can apply at this website, email: PCSBRLoan@piercecountywa.gov or call 253-798-6150.
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