Friday, February 4th, 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt many aspects of our life in the Hudson Valley. Schools, businesses and public spaces have all needed to adjust the way they operate the account for the health of the people they employ or serve.
Though the effects are widespread, the fallout from the pandemic has been particularly challenging for main streets. Many of the things main streets traditionally rely on – foot traffic, disposable income, tourism – have been diminished by the pandemic.
These effects are not just anecdotal. Data illustrates them with great clarity.
Main street and small businesses experienced higher employment loss compared to other types of businesses, the restaurant and retail sectors are still struggling, and about 40 percent of surveyed small businesses in New York believe they are more than 6 months away from returning to a normal level of operation. These metrics reinforce the stories we see on the news and hear in our Hudson Valley communities.
After the initial wave of the pandemic hit New York in early 2020, a number of resources were made available to support ailing sectors of the economy, including main street. Programs like the Shuttered Venue Grant and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund were particularly relevant for main streets. Though these programs were helpful, funding was limited, and many who applied did not receive assistance. The financial resources available through these and many other similar COVID relief programs have been completely depleted.
In the face of these challenges, Pattern for Progress created a resource page for small businesses. The page includes information and links to active programs that still have a pool of funds to assist small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Check out Main Street Hudson Valley – Resources for Small Business
