To the Editor:
Hi again. Just a quick update from my letter of a few weeks ago. There is now a website up that provides information for some of our small local businesses who will be struggling to cover expenses and survive during this extended period of social distancing. The site is: www.StrongCommunitiesUnited.com and has contact information for a beginning list of local businesses feeling the impact of COVID 19. It is being built through donated time with no cost to any businesses that would like to be added.
I encourage residents to view the site and suggest other Manchester businesses they might like to see supported. While some of our local businesses could see relief through new legislation and loans, I expect many may not meet the requirements to have these loans forgiven. In the short term, they continue to see rent and utility expenses growing, requiring immediate or later payments.
I welcome emails to shamiltonbythesea@gmail.com from any local business wanting to be added to the site. In the meantime, I have found that one of the easiest ways to be supportive has been to use an online banking tool. It has provided me with an option to set up regular payments/gifts to those businesses I have frequented and want to have available in the future.
While these are challenging times, it has been a pleasure to meet new people and hear of many supportive actions that have been happening in Manchester and across many other communities.
Respectfully,
Steve Hamilton
Manchester
