“It’s a case study — a case study of what should be done and how it can be done. It’s Tennessee,” stated President Donald Trump, referring to the tornado relief response in Putnam County.
“This unprecedented relief is absolutely vital for Tennessee’s small businesses, workers and Main Street economy to weather the impact of COVID-19,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said. “I encourage our small businesses to access the SBA’s new forgivable loan program to ensure Tennesseans continue to get a paycheck during these difficult times.”
“The impact on many of the businesses is devastating,” said Holly Hanson, director of the Cumberland Business Incubator (CBI), managed by Roane State on the college’s Cumberland County campus. “It’s a tough time to start a business, and a tough time to grow some.”
“Small businesses and their employees are the backbone of our economy, and the Paycheck Protection Program provides essential aid to sustain Tennessee’s Main Street economy,” TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe said.
“It’s always more beneficial to see a patient face-to-face, but we’re trying to minimize exposure to patients and healthcare workers and minimize opportunities for the social spread and flatten the curve, which is the goal of the measures in place right now,” said local physician Chet Gentry.
“As a general thing, someone who feels like they might have a cold or an upper respiratory infection, if it’s not enough for them to go to the doctor, they should isolate themselves at home,” said Dr. Mark Pierce, CRMC infectious disease specialist.
“It’ll take us a month to get everything completely back to how it was, but we’ll do all the repairs and maintenance windows in the middle of the night when most people are asleep,” stated Jonathan West, Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative CEO.
“When in extraordinary times, we must take uncomfortable measures,” said Jay Albrecht, owner of Seven Senses Food & Cheer. “The last thing I want to do is change my business because of this pandemic, but I feel it’s the right thing to do.”
“The world of small business has been turned upside down,” said Jutta Bangs, director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) in Oak Ridge.
