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MN Chambers Unified Letter to House Pandemic Committee

    Home MN Chambers Unified Letter to House Pandemic Committee

    MN Chambers Unified Letter to House Pandemic Committee

    Brad Meier
    Thursday, June 4, 2020
    (0) Comments
    MN Chambers Unified Letter to House Pandemic Committee

    Minnesota House of Representatives
    Select Committee on Minnesota’s Pandemic Response and Rebuilding
     
    Dear Committee Members:
     
    Small businesses are the economic fuel of our state’s future. Nearly half of Minnesotans own or work for a small business and create two out of every three new jobs each year. On behalf of hundreds of thousands of small businesses and more than 60 local chambers of commerce across Minnesota, we urge you to work with Governor Walz’s Administration to open all of the small businesses that have been sidelined since March 16th.
     
    Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the business community has shared the responsibility of balancing the need for public health protections and economic impacts. Businesses that have remained open throughout this crisis have taken necessary steps to protect employee and customer health. Small businesses across our state have done the same and are ready to re-open now. Without decisive action, many will be lost. This is not simply a personal loss for business owners. This is a loss to the employees, their communities, the local governments and the state in terms of commercial and economic activity.
    DEED Commissioner Grove has acknowledged that small businesses have borne a disproportionate amount of the economic burden. April employment statistics released by DEED show that compared to the same month last year, employment is down 73% in full-service restaurants, 63% in personal and laundry services, and 61% in arts, recreation and entertainment. SBA statistics reveal that these industries have among the highest shares of small business employment in our state’s economy.
     
    We ask you to recognize that these businesses have designed plans for safe work and customer environments and allow them to fully re-open by June 15th.
     
    Other states in our region have offered clear guidance and dates for moving ahead with re-opening or have already opened:
     
    • Indiana’s “Back on Track Indiana” plan has clear timelines if positive health outcomes are sustained. For example, on June 14th, retail stores and malls can operate at full capacity; dining rooms at 75% capacity; bowling alleys and other smaller entertainment venues at 50% capacity. By July 4th, personal services, gyms, bars and restaurants are open at full capacity and gatherings of 250 people are allowed including sports venues, conventions, festivals and state fair. https://backontrack.in.gov/2348.htm
    • “Re-open Kansas” allows all businesses to fully re-open with adherence to health safety guidelines after June 8th. https://covid.ks.gov/ad-astra-a-plan-to-reopen-kansas/
    • Iowa re-opened small retail boutiques, personal services, fitness facilities, entertainment venues and establishments serving alcohol (50% capacity limitation) in May.
    • North Dakota small businesses including breweries, bars, restaurants, personal care services, retail and smaller entertainment venues have been open since May 1st.
    • Wisconsin small businesses have been open (if not prohibited by local health orders) since May 13th.
     
    As chambers of commerce, we stand ready to help ensure our members are prepared to open – that they have instituted health and safety protocols for their workers and customers and have a preparedness plan in place. We are confident in their ability to do the right thing and are working with them, each and every day to understand and employ best practices. In fact, we believe if allowed, will do it equally as well as their larger counterparts.
     
    It’s time to get Minnesota moving again, in the safest way possible for employees and customers, while protecting businesses of all sizes. Minnesota’s long-term economic future is counting on it.
     
    LOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE IN SUPPORT OF SAFELY OPENING SMALL BUSINESSES
     

    Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
    Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce
    Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce
    Austin Area Chamber of Commerce
    Belle Plaine Chamber of Commerce
    Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce
    Big Lake Chamber of Commerce & Industry
    Brainerd Lakes Chamber
    Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce
    Burnsville Chamber of Commerce
    Cannon Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
    Cold Spring Area Chamber
    Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce
    Crookston Area Chamber of Commerce
    Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce
    Delano Area Chamber of Commerce
    Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
    Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce
    Edina Chamber of Commerce
    Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce
    Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce
    Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
    Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
    Glenwood Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
    Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
    Greater Mankato Growth, Inc.
    Ham Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
    Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau
    Hermantown Area Chamber of Commerce
    Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce
    Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
    La Crescent Chamber of Commerce
    Lake City Chamber of Commerce
    Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce
    Laurentian Chamber of Commerce
    Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
    Litchfield Chamber of Commerce
    Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce
    Melrose Area Chamber of Commerce
    MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce
    Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
    New Prague Chamber of Commerce
    New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce
    North 65 Chamber of Commerce
    Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
    Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
    Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
    Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB
    Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce
    Redwood Area Chamber & Tourism
    Sauk Centre Area Chamber of Commerce
    Shakopee Chamber & Visitors Bureau
    Sleepy Eye Area Chamber of Commerce
    St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
    The Chamber Grand Forks & East Grand Forks
    Twin Cities North Chamber
    Wabasha Kellogg Chamber of Commerce / CVB
    Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce
    White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce
    Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
    Winona Area Chamber of Commerce
    Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce
     

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