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Businesses waiting for COVID-19 aid

To the editor:

I am a junior at New Ulm High School and I am currently enrolled in a journalism class this semester. For my feature story, I wrote about how this pandemic is affecting local businesses.

Many of the business owners I interviewed suggested that I should submit some of my story here to raise more attention to what is really going on. COVID-19 is not only affecting schools and hospitals, but it is also affecting local businesses right here in our community.

I spoke with Jessica Hoffman and Danielle Marti of Gallery 512 Boutique, Jenna Odegard of Bumbelou, and Christina Schwab of Inspired. All of them feel confident in their businesses, but none of them have yet to receive the promised funding from legislators.

Marti stated, “That’s where this all gets frustrating. Don’t say you’re helping when you’re not when you are just making it look like you are.” Odegard also commented saying that “The extra support would be nice, but we are fine, and we are making it day by day, just break even so we can still be here when it is all over.”

All of these owners are hustling so their businesses don’t fall through the cracks. The extra funding would be a nice comfort to these business owners during these trying times. Marti and Hoffman both agree that people should reach out to local state legislators to voice their opinions, hoping they will provide relief for small businesses. All of these business owners agreed that a significant way to support local small businesses is to shop with them, not only now but when they reopen. If you can’t support small businesses financially, they recommend engaging in their social media. It can be as simple as a like or comment, or as big as a share and some words of encouragement. This, too, shall pass, and many of New Ulm’s historic downtown businesses will be here when it does.

Emma Fairbairn

New Ulm

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