North Carolina small businesses urge Congress to quickly pass covid funding
January 29, 2021
North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation
Washington D.C.
Dear Senators and Representatives,
As small business owners across North Carolina, we are urging you to support passing legislation immediately that will provide financial assistance to businesses struggling during the pandemic, fund necessary COVID-19 testing infrastructure, and boost the production and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Our state’s economy is in crisis, and more people are dying from COVID19 every day.
Many small businesses face a continued slump in revenue, and many are hanging on by a thread. As the virus rages on, more restrictions may be necessary to curb the spread of the virus, and businesses need financial assistance to weather the storm.
Economists have made clear that in the long term, the only way to save lives and fully repair the economy is to get the virus under control.
Health experts agree that widespread testing is one of the most effective ways to reign in the virus, but our state is falling far short of the testing levels we’d need to effectively suppress the virus. According to the Brown University School of Public Health and Harvard Global Health Institute, North Carolina needs to do four times more testing than it’s doing now. Federal assistance to states for purchasing testing supplies and coordinating testing infrastructure is key to hitting the appropriate testing levels as quickly as possible.
Masks, gloves, and other kinds of PPE are still in short supply, and we know wearing masks is one of the most effective ways to slow transmission of the virus. These shortages could get worse as the virus spreads across the country. We need the federal government to boost the production of PPE through the Defense Production Act, and to coordinate distribution of those materials in a transparent way.
For the sake of our lives and our livelihoods, please support passing legislation immediately that will:
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Provide financial assistance to small businesses to bolster their current standing and allow them to weather any future virus related restrictions;
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Invest at least $50 billion for producing COVID19 tests and relevant testing infrastructure. That additional funding, plus the resources provided in the last covid package, will give the level of support public health experts deem necessary for a robust testing response;
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Provide necessary funding to boost PPE production through the Defense Production Act, and establish a system for transparent distribution of those materials.
Without swift action, more North Carolina businesses will close their doors for good, and more lives will be lost unnecessarily to this deadly virus.
Sincerely,
Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce, Leanne Patrick, Littleton, North Carolina
Rush Hour Karting, Adam Saad, Garner, North Carolina
Mayfel’s, Mary Woolley, Asheville, North Carolina
The Green Monkey LLC, Rusty Sutton, Raleigh, North Carolina
High Five Coffee, Jay Weatherly, Asheville, North Carolina
Freeman’s Creative, Ellen Freeman-Lynde, Durham, North Carolina
Little Switzerland Orchard and Winery, Anthony McVay, Asheville, North Carolina
Mike D’s BBQ LLC, Michael De Los Santos, Durham, North Carolina
Durty Bull Brewing Company, Matthew Pennisi, Durham, North Carolina
McKenzie Botanicals LLC, Tina McKenzie, Maggie Valley, North Carolina
Turtle Island Pottery, Maggie Jones, Old Fort, North Carolina
Trout Lily Market & Deli, Laura Telford, Fairview, North Carolina
Rose & Lee Co., Amber Brennan, Apex, North Carolina
Attic Salt Theatre Company, Jeff Catanese, Asheville, North Carolina
2nd Paige Studio, Paige Houghton, Asheville, North Carolina
67 Biltmore Downtown Eatery & Catering, Emily Thome, Asheville, North Carolina
Frites and Taters, Jill Santa Lucia, Raleigh, North Carolina
Green River Woods, Inc., Matt Christie, Asheville, North Carolina
Haywood Common, Hannah Cosner, Asheville, North Carolina
Artisan Aromatics, Ivan Prim, Highlands, North Carolina
Asheville Bujinkan Dojo, Owen Hempton, Candler, NC
Asheville Integrative Therapies, Nicole Johnson, Asheville, North Carolina
Copper Crown, Kate Bannasch, Asheville, North Carolina
Deanna Chilian Fine Art, Deanna S Chilian, Asheville, North Carolina
Ebb & Flow Massage Therapy Center, Lauren Loiacono, Asheville, North Carolina
Art Garden Avl, Annie Bennett, Asheville, North Carolina
Arteries Mobile Boutique, Stina Andersen, Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville Raven & Crone LLC, Lisa Anderson, Asheville, North Carolina
Chef Michael’s Catering, Inc., Judyth McKnight, Fletcher, North Carolina
Chu Art+Dzine, Jon Chu, Asheville, North Carolina
ELK Local Foods, Lora Neel, APEX, North Carolina
Ella’s Popcorn, Jill Lucia, Raleigh, North Carolina
Blue Dream Curry House, James Sutherland, Asheville, North Carolina
Blue Lotus Design Studios, Jennifer Suess, Asheville, North Carolina
Bull City Fair Trade, Amy Bourret, Durham, North Carolina
Ashley Lozano Jewelry, Ashley Lozano Edmonds, Mars Hill, North Carolina
Catering Works, Inc., Lorin Laxton, Raleigh, North Carolina
Local Charm, Jennifer Bernat, Rolesville, North Carolina
Charmed Asheville, Daniel Areyzaga, Asheville, North Carolina
Fig’s Market, Jill, Lucia, Raleigh, North Carolina
Vivian Saich Designs, Vivian Saich, Asheville, North Carolina
White Oak Pottery, Julie Olson, Durham, North Carolina
Trish Salmon, Canton, North Carolina
Asheville Goods, Celia Naranjo, Asheville, North Carolina
Mid Town Eats, Jill Santa Lucia, Raleigh, North Carolina
Moogseum, Michelle Moog-Koussa, Asheville, North Carolina
Ms. B’s Bake Shop LLC, Benisha Hunter, Benson, North Carolina
PennyCup Coffee Co., Bill Tanner, Asheville, North Carolina
Pizza Pit, Magda Saad, Garner, North Carolina
The Social, Christen Short, Asheville, North Carolina
Three Cats Creative, LLC, Heather Davis, Asheville, North Carolina
Trackside Studios, Julie Bell, Asheville, North Carolina
Lollipops Ltd., Ashley Tolbert, Asheville, North Carolina
Melissa Designer Jewelry, Melissa, Booth, Hillsborough, North Carolina
Purl’s Yarn Emporium, Elizabeth & Rik Schell, Asheville, North Carolina
Response Physical Therapy, Dan Cyr, Cary, North Carolina
Instant Karma, Jackie Rees, Asheville, North Carolina
Ivory Road LLC, Jill Wasilewski, Arden, North Carolina
Katie Button Restaurants, Elizabeth Button, Asheville, North Carolina
River Arts District Artists, Andrea Kulish, Asheville, North Carolina
Roman’s Deli and Catering, Roman Braverman, Asheville, North Carolina
Round Earth Roasters, Laura Telford, Asheville, North Carolina
Carolina Hemp Company, Trent Williams, Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville Furniture Repair, Jeremy Winstead, Asheville, North Carolina
Pops Backdoor, Saroj Poudel, Durham, North Carolina
Bull City Inflatables, Swift Swift, Durham, North Carolina
Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast, Monica Edwards, Durham, North Carolina
Crafts & Drafts NC, Virginia George, Durham, North Carolina
Creative Divine Studios, Melinda de Marmion, Hendersonville, North Carolina
freelightphoto, Can Dickerson, Durham, North Carolina
Skylander Media, Julie Ross, Durham, North Carolina
Slower Medicine, PLLC, Kenneth Stone, MD, Durham, North Carolina
Horse & Buggy Press, Dave Wofford, Durham, North Carolina
Amy May Pop Art, Amy Arcos, Durham, North Carolina
Tierra Sol Studio, Seana Monley Rodriguez, Durham, North Carolina
Belle Ciocche Hair Studio, Amy Tucker, Durham, North Carolina
Soul Sidewalk, Catherine Heaton, Asheville, North Carolina
Spiritex, Corey Jones, Asheville, North Carolina
SportHQ, LLC, Dan Cyr, Cary, North Carolina
Studio A LLC, Chris Wilhelm, Asheville, North Carolina
The Glass Jug Beer Lab, Chris Creech, Durham, North Carolina
The Gray Dot Company, Tory Gray, Asheville, North Carolina
Silver Cascades, Rebecca KIng, Weaverville, North Carolina
Union Special, Andrew Ullom, Raleigh, North Carolina
VaVaVooom LLC, Lisa Genevieve Ziemer, Asheville, North Carolina
The Wedding Exchange, Wendy Clark, Durham, North Carolina
Carpe Diem Cleaning, Madeline Bailey, Durham, North Carolina
Hand in Hand Wedding Coordinations, Ellory Shields, Cary, North Carolina
Media Group, Michael Binder, Durham, North Carolina