ARIZONA, USA — Arizona businesses caught in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic are struggling. Many are searching for help to keep their doors open to make it through to the other side.
It’s been three weeks since restaurants had to close their dining rooms and offer only takeout only options.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Amy Wakser, owner of Arizona Bread Company said. “I would have never in a million years thought this could happen.”
The parking lot in front of the restaurant and bakery was empty at lunchtime on Tuesday. One customer comes in at a time for carryout only food.
“My husband and my brothers run the wholesale side of our business and that tanked quicker than the retail side did, so we’ve let a lot of people go,” Wakser said.
Many small businesses are dealing with the same thing.
“It was a really hard decision for us,” Danielle Leoni, Executive Chef and Owner of The Breadfruit and Rum Bar said.
Some like Leoni are having to make the choice to close down through the pandemic.
“We did try to do a takeout model for a few days and it wasn’t a feasible way to do business,” Leoni said.
Governor Doug Ducey signed an executive order Monday stopping evictions for small businesses and nonprofits who can’t pay rent because of financial complications from COVID-19.
RELATED: A quarter-million Arizonans lost their jobs in just 3 weeks. Their lifeboat isn’t quite ready yet.
On the federal level, there are a variety of loans ranging from emergency loans for small businesses to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
The PPP is offering 100% forgivable loans if used for certain expenses.
“Go try to make those applications and try to keep your employees connected to your shop and your health insurance if you can,” Paul Hickman, CEO of the Arizona Bankers Association said.
Hickman recommended that small businesses look at the guidance from the Small Business Administration on those options.
However, Hickman said there have been hitches to work through so funds could take time.
“The SBA, that does about $1.7 billion a month, is being asked to do $350 billion in two weeks,” Hickman said. “So understand the magnitude of what we’re asking them to do.”
In the meantime, Leoni said some fees and debts are adding up for folks.
"There’s that gap in time and we’re asking people to hit pause on all that debt that’s rolling in,” Leoni said.
