News from July 2020
Come And Take Out program gives Austin restaurants hope during COVID-19 surge
From North Austin News
Come And Take Out campaign promotes restaurants among locals despite virus
Texas bar owners form group to oppose governor’s order to close
From Ft Worth Times
A spike in COVID-19 cases has resulted in Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issuing an executive order requiring bars to shut down and restaurants to operate with a limited capacity. Business owners have voiced their concerns as some have joined a “Bar Lives Matter“ movement.
Advocacy group: Paycheck Protection Program's shortcomings become more obvious
From NYC Gazette
There are billions still on the table for small businesses that are struggling to survive during the COVID-19 crisis, and the program’s own issues created the situation, say business owners and advocacy groups.
COVID-19 puts 2 Lucky's locations in Houston out of business
From Houston Republic
A popular Houston sports bar will close two locations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
SBA denies nearly half of all loans, frustrating Tampa business owners
From Tampa Republic
The Small Business Association Loans program, promised by the federal government, has denied 48 percent of applicants, leaving millions of business owners without money, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Long Beach restaurant employees refuse to return to work over unemployment, safety
From SE LA Times
Restaurant owners who faced closures and economic challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic have an unforeseen problem because many of the employees they laid off don't want to come back to work.
Rasmussen survey: Trump's business reimbursement plan to rehire workers edges Biden's view
From DC Business Daily
Voters say they prefer President Trump's support for reimbursing U.S. companies to rehire workers after COVID-19 while Joe Biden supports reimbursing state and local governments, according to a new study.
CNBC: Billionaires, private plane companies receive PPP bailouts
From Empire State Today
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been a source of controversy since it was announced, with small business owners struggling to apply, extreme secrecy over who received funding, and large corporations obtaining loans. As the names of companies receiving these funds have been revealed, small business owners have seen exactly who received funding while they struggled.
Texas economist: It's time to get business going again
From Business Daily
Economist Vance Ginn, who formerly worked in the White House Office of Management and Budget, says the only way to ensure the economy recovers is to allow businesses to reopen and for people to go back to work.
New York small-business closures could cut 3 million jobs permanently
From Empire State Today
Small businesses in New York City that struggled before the COVID-19 pandemic have arrived at the brink of permanent closure with no relief in sight for them or their landlords.
Business spending increases in June; still down from a year ago due to COVID-19
From Business Daily
Business spending in June has risen slightly since May, according to an analysis by Cortera, CNBC reported.
Pensacola News Journal: Escambia businesses have trouble filling jobs despite high unemployment
From Pensacola Times
Unemployment in Escambia County currently is almost 12% but that isn't helping area businesses fill open job slots, the Pensacola News Journal recently reported.
Texas bars battle to survive; Houston manager says she reopen safely if governor gives OK
From Houston Republic
Texas bars are struggling to survive during the second shutdown due to the coronavirus and one manager said her bar and others should be allowed to reopen and can rework their floor plans to ensure customers’ safety.
Downtown Houston beer garden still closed to dine-in customers following governor's abrupt, unwritten order
From Houston Republic
Downtown Houston beer garden still closed to dine-in customers following governor's abrupt, unwritten order
Texas Public Policy Foundation report analyzes Rehire America Workplace Recovery Act
From Business Daily
Americans can expect $1.4 trillion in economic output and to keep their jobs if the Rehire America Workplace Recovery Act is implemented
LendingTree survey: 5% of New York small business owners report no cash on hand
From Empire State Today
New York was one of the nation's four large metro areas in which at least 5 percent of small business owners reported they had no cash on hand during a one-week period in June, according to a LendingTree survey released earlier this month.
Texas bars open, defy governor's orders
From Ft Worth Times
Nearly 800 Texas bars opened in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order shutting them down due to COVID-19, and they had safety protocols in place to show that they can operate safely.
Yelp says the majority of temporarily closed businesses are now permanently closed
From Golden State Today
Yelp reported that 55 percent of businesses previously listed as temporarily closed due to COVID-19 are now marked as permanently closed, according to Forbes.