Mayor urges small businesses to seek SBA help

by Dan McClelland

In response from calls from the business community about what the village is doing to help businesses survive this troubling time in our history, Mayor Paul Maroun said at a special budget presentation meeting the best thing for business owners to do right now is apply for new loans available through the federal Small Business Administration.

He said to help all utility customers of the village, the board waived all penalties and fees on last month's bill. “We'll probably do that again this month.”

“However any business owner that contacts me I have been sending them to the SBA because that's where the money will come from.”

He said the federal agency has created “special pots of money” to help various types of businesses like the construction industry, realtors, retailers, the service industry, etc.

The mayor said business owners have to go on line at https.://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Or called SBA's service center at 1-800 659-2955.

A new federal bill called “Keeping American Workers Employes and Paid Act” will provide $350 billion to help prevent workers from losing their jobs and small businesses from going under due to economic losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mayor said that the owners of Amado Restaurant and Cafe and Tupper Lake Supply have already made contact with the SBA in recent days and report that the application process is relatively simple.

The mayor also announced that evening that grant writer and community development consultant Melissa McManus has offered to help local business owners complete the paperwork or provide information about these SBA programs available to them. Her telephone number is (518) 335-9680 and her e-mail address is tupperlakecommunitydevelopment@gmail.com.

Another important business resource right now is the North Country Chamber of Commerce which produces almost daily bulletins of advice and information. It can be found at northcountrychamber.com/chamber/ smallbiz.

Terry Doolen, who owns the Adirondack Inn with his wife, Robin, told the board via the conference call that evening that some of the SBA loans carry interest rates of about 3.75% but there are some where there is a year of forgiveness and some eventually can turn to outright grants. “Right now my wife and I looking at all avenues.”

He told village officials too that while all motel and hotels are considered “essential businesses” that can stay open during this crisis.

But even though motels and hotels may remain open state and federal orders for everyone to stay at home have kept people from traveling and have hurt the accommodations industry.