Helping Out the Little Guys

The government has promised a major bailout for small businesses by reason of the Coronavirus, yet the real intervention might have to come through other means

By Mitchell Levesque

Imagine, for a moment, your favorite local business: Upon entering, you’re most likely greeted by the bells at the door. Sitting down at a table, you can’t help but be at least charmed, if not taken aback by their impressive collection of succulents; if you’re lucky, there may even be a cat sitting in the window. Now imagine if that business were to close down. If you struggle to do this, you need not worry as the situation needs little imagining. With the emergence of the Coronavirus, small businesses have struggled, and some have even closed. And now with things accelerating, the situation begs the question: what can be done for these local institutions? 

As of Wednesday, March 26, Congress has rolled out one of the largest stimulus packages in the country’s history. According to the bill, small businesses can expect loan forgiveness and other provisions that are desperately needed. Businesses experiencing any supply chain disruptions, staffing challenges, decrease in sales or customers, and/or shuttered business are ones to qualify for aid. However, not all news is good news. According to reports in the New York Times, the bill will most likely not take effect for two more weeks, which for many small businesses is two weeks too late. In the meantime, what can we do as consumers do to help during these troubling times?

One way to contribute is to donate to the non-profit Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation. Your donation will go to workers in the restaurant industry, other non-profit organizations serving restaurant workers in crisis, and zero-interest loans for restaurants. However, the easiest and perhaps most mutually beneficial way to help is to order take-out. This can be especially helpful as many small businesses in the Dinkytown and Twin Cities area are not on sites like DoorDash. Solutions will have to come from many places, but perhaps the best place to start is the take-out menu at your favorite local restaurant.