Bluffton pushes ‘economic resiliency plan’ to help small businesses during coronavirus
While the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce works on a plan to safely reopen local businesses, Bluffton leaders are touting an economic resiliency plan to assist small businesses grappling with closures because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The five-step plan approved by Bluffton Town Council on Thursday provides a list of all economic resources available to local business owners; encourages utility companies and landlords to delay payment deadlines and late fees or evictions; postpones the town’s business license renewal deadline; allows the town to apply for future stimulus grants; and helps the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation promote its business survey on social media.
“The goal is to be predictive and proactive to preserve business continuity and business resiliency,” town manager Marc Orlando said Thursday. “We’re helping businesses with how to communicate with stakeholders and how to maximize government programs. We all realize the extent of the [virus’] long term-impact ... is very uncertain.”
While few direct actions came out of the plan, it provides a long list of important federal and local resources for small businesses looking for help.
The plan comes on the heels of the Hilton Head chamber’s announcement that it would appoint appoint committees to begin planning how to safely reopen restaurants, retail, lodging, recreation/attractions, and small businesses.
Bluffton’s plan is part of a partnership with several economic drivers in the region: the Don Ryan Center for Innovation, the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation, the University of South Carolina Beaufort, the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce.
Resource guide
The COVID-19 resource guide created by the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation and the Don Ryan Center for Innovation provides business owners a list of resources and explanations of federal and local programs such as the CARES Act, SBA programs and S.C. Department of Workforce programs.
The guide also explains how to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Program loans.
Residents with questions are encouraged to call the Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation at (843) 226-3462 or the Don Ryan Center for Innovation at 843-540-0405.
On April 7, the two groups sent a survey to more than 3,400 Bluffton business owners about how the coronavirus has affected their business. Town Manager Marc Orlando said he hopes to receive the results of that survey soon.
The plan
On top of providing resources, the economic plan also promises that Bluffton leaders will work with small businesses to ensure they are treated fairly during the coronavirus pandemic.
The plan promises to:
▪ Establish a memorandum of understanding with local legal resources to provide small businesses with pro bono legal assistance to “navigate through legal questions and concerns of potential negative economic impacts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
▪ Develop a new growth program to sustain and grow the town while still addressing the “needs of Bluffton’s existing businesses to manage cash flow and business deficiencies.”
▪ Strongly encourage utility companies to follow local actions in delaying payment due dates and waiving late fees.
▪ Strongly encourage property owners to be lenient on tenants regarding late payments and to defer eviction actions.
▪ Defer the town’s business license renewal deadline from April 30 until Aug. 7.
▪ Apply for stimulus grant funds like a revolving loan program, business assistance and “other related initiatives.”
