Category: Business

Mayor Alvey stresses seriousness of coronavirus threat

Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

Mayor David Alvey makes it very clear—the coronavirus pandemic poses a serious threat to residents of Wyandotte County. However, various public and private organizations have recognized this and are cooperating to deal with the threat.

In a teleconference convened at 2 p.m. Monday, March 23, Maureen Mahoney, the mayor’s chief of staff, briefed business leaders. They included representatives of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Wyandotte Economic Development Council, the Fairfax Industrial Association and Business West.

Mahoney said as of Monday afternoon, there were 16 persons in Wyandotte County that had tested positive for coronavirus. She praised such organizations as the YMCA and area schools for offering to help to provide child care, particularly for emergency service personnel such as police and firefighters.

Mahoney said the Unified Government’s website, www.wycokck.org is a resource for businesses seeking financial assistance.

Mayor Alvey has joined with elected officials from other metropolitan counties to require a 30-day period that started at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, for residents to remain at home except for essential activities for health and safety. Residents can go to grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, doctor’s offices, banks and restaurants offering carryout.

Mahoney said Alan Carr, the executive director of the Kansas City, Kansas, Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, has made a list for the bureau’s website that tells the restaurants that are open for carryout and delivery. The website is www.VisitKansasCityKS.com

Mahoney reminded people that they should continue to keep groups to 10 persons or less, practice good hygiene including washing hands and stay at least six feet away from other persons.

Mahoney said although the threat of coronavirus is very serious, the Unified Government’s order is not martial law.

Mark Dupree, the Wyandotte County district attorney, has reported that individuals, including those who are undocumented, will not be arrested or detained for seeking medical attention. He said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has adjusted its enforcement posture, effective March 18.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is executive director of Business West.

Legends Outlets to close on Tuesday, in accordance with UG closing order

Some restaurant carryouts, two stores there can remain open as ‘essential’ businesses

The Legends Outlets shopping center in Kansas City, Kansas, is closing on Tuesday as a result of the Unified Government’s executive order closing all non-essential businesses.

The UG’s order was made to stop the spread of the COVID=19 coronavirus.

According to an announcement Monday afternoon, The Legends will be closed Tuesday for at least 30 days. The order goes into effect at midnight tonight.

According to the announcement, restaurants at The Legends may remain open to provide curbside pickup, carryout and delivery only, if they choose.

Also, Target and Sprint stores will remain open under modified hours as essential businesses, according to the announcement.

“We will continue to monitor all communication from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), and work with Kansas government and health officials to assess when it is safe to reopen,” The Legends stated on its website. The statement added it looked forward to seeing its customers again.

For more information about Legends restaurants, visit https://legendsshopping.com/news/delivery-and-curbside/?fbclid=IwAR3cOUVIEuqbZOXk5PgoBVyZiTuU4QdBb-cexs4pth4hs2aTt3hrcfNurXc
or https://legendsshopping.com/stores/.

Small Business Administration offering low-interest disaster loans for Kansas businesses

Gov. Laura Kelly announced Saturday that the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved her request to make loans of up to $2 million available to small businesses disrupted by coronavirus.

The disaster declaration applies to all 105 Kansas counties, making low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital available for Kansas small businesses suffering substantial economic injury.

“The COVID-19 outbreak and the uncertainty around its spread has had, and continues to have, a significant impact on Kansas businesses,” Gov. Kelly said in a news release. “I’m grateful for the combined efforts of businesses, the Department of Commerce and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management to quickly pull together the data that made it possible for Kansas to receive this designation and begin getting support to the small Kansas businesses that need it during this emergency situation.”

Kansas small businesses can begin applying for disaster loan assistance through the SBA at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. SBA customer service representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.

“SBA’s disaster loans are a powerful tool to help our state’s small businesses weather this temporary storm,” Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “The Department of Commerce is grateful for the SBA’s quick action to make these resources available and for their commitment to keeping Kansas businesses strong.”

SBA loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills because of the disaster’s impact.

Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19. The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses and 2.75 percent for private non-profit organizations.

Businesses may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.