Rivertown Treasure Chest

Debbie Blazier did not apply for a grant last October when the City of Antioch created a $300,000 small business relief fund with money from the Federal Cares Act. Because I don't pay wages, we pay just on sales and commissions. But sales are now down 25% at her co-op Rivertown Treasure Chest. Store hours have been reduced to lower the electricity bill and staff members are working fewer and fewer hours. If the City offers another grant, she says this time she would j Our landlord has reduced the rent for these months to help, but once we're back, A recent survey among small business owners conducted by the Antioch Chamber of Commerce shows financial assistance would be more helpful than reduced restrictions and that up to 21% of those businesses may have to close permanently because of a drastic loss in revenue. Newly elected Mayor Lamar Thorpe says the City has about $40 million in reserves and wants to explore a second small business grant program, this time totaling about a half million dollars. And another half million for rental assistance. Thorpe says he plans to make his case to the City Council when it meets next month. We save these monies for emergencies. Well, this is a local emergency. We have a crisis on our hand that's beyond just our city, our region, our state and our country. It's global. And so we need to reach back to our reserve coffers and start providing direct assistance. Assistance needed now in Antioch, Philippe Jigal, Cron For News.