County executive Sam Page is reaching out to organizations in an effort to assist businesses as the region responds to the COVID-19 crisis. Businesses of all sizes are closing, furloughing employees or adjusting hours, impacting employee revenue and payroll.
“As the economic development agencies in St. Louis County, I respectfully request that you prioritize any matter involving COVID-19’s impact on local businesses that may be presented to you,” Page said in a letter to St. Louis Economic Development Partnership CEO Rodney Crim.
“I further request that you consider new and creative ways to use your resources, legal authorities and personnel to mitigate the negative consequences to our local business community,” Page said.
The letter was sent to Crim as head of the partnership and as a representative of the Certified Development Company, the Industrial Development Authority, the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, the Port Authority, STLVentureWorks, the World Trade Center St. Louis, and other economic development efforts of St. Louis County.
“St. Louis County is doing what it can to limit the spread of COVID-19 as much as possible,” Page said. “Indeed, we are dedicating the maximum resources possible to help our residents through this crisis. Businesses of all sizes have been impacted negatively by COVID-19. I fear they will be impacted even more significantly in coming weeks,” Page said.
On Tuesday, Page signed an executive order requiring all restaurants and bars in St. Louis County to institute social distancing measures. Starting by 12:01 a.m. on March 20, all restaurants and bars must start serving customers only through delivery, carry-out, curbside or a drive-thru.