While
we cannot change our current circumstances, we can work on a plan for what the
future could be. Our business community is not going to look the same as
it did before. We must put aside our sadness and answer this
question: How do we grow a more vibrant small business community in our
region? Let’s take this time to decide how we emerge from this crisis
stronger. Marinette/Menominee is depending on us.
There are resources that you can tap into, and you might be surprised at how
creative our local institutions are willing to be. Contact your banker
first. I was encouraged when I contacted mine. Not only was she
ready for my call (she called me first to be accurate), she had several ideas
on how she could help.
Governors Whitmer and Evers have both received approval from the Small Business
Administration for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. This is a loan program
you can apply for today. Senator Baldwin is working right now to
include a provision for loan forgiveness for these EIDL loans for the small
businesses that are able to keep their employees working during this slowdown.
Our friends at inVenture North are hard at work on a suite of
products (app, website, etc) that they are going to offer to businesses at no
charge while we are in this crisis. Their efforts will help us emerge
poised to take new steps.
There is strength in numbers. We need to lobby our city, county, state,
and federal governments for relief to help us survive this crisis. Let’s
band together and share our best ideas, distill them into an action plan, and
proceed forward. We may not have financial resources right now, but many
of us have extra time on our hands. Let’s use it to move forward
together.
Please reach out if you have questions or ideas. We look forward to
getting together when the circumstances permit.
Sincerely,
Kim Brooks
kkbrooks@bellsouth.net
Keith Killen
k-killen@outlook.com
Roberta Davis
Roberta.davis@inventurenorth.com
