New economic response team invites local business owners to meet virtually

Metro Wire Staff

Local business owners are invited to join a virtual meeting held by the Portage Co. Economic Response Team.

The ERT was created in late March as a joint effort between local community groups and Portage Co., Stevens Point, and Plover governments. The task force plans to identify a plan of action to help local business owners survive economic hardship during COVID-19 mandatory closures.

“This will affect the entire county, state, and of course, the entire country,” Portage Co. Executive Chris Holman said on March 29. “Right now, we have a basic plan of action under the governor’s order—but we’re starting to look at what we can do if this goes beyond the governer’s order, past April 24. This could impact our local economy for years.”

Steve Kunst, community development manager for Plover, said it’s a unique partnership between municipalities that don’t always partner.

“This is a partnership with those involved with economic development,” Kunst said. “The simplest way to say it is, we’re reaching out to our business community to say, ‘What is it that you most need right now?’ and directing them to the resources we know to be available and assisting them for applying for it, answering questions, whatever helps them individually.”

Kunst said the COVID-19 closures have different impacts on different businesses. Some, like health care facilities, remain open to care for the sick. Restaurants can remain open for carryout or delivery service, restricting their hours of operation and affecting some of their employees. Other businesses, such as retail establishments or hair salons, are closed down entirely.

The ERT acts as a centralized local response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The group will host its first meeting via Zoom video conferencing at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 13.

Participants are encouraged to submit questions prior to the meeting by emailing Ryan Kernosky, community development director of Stevens Point, at [email protected].

Guest speakers during the meeting include Holman, Kunst, and Kernosky, along with Portage Co. Health Officer Gary Garske, Sue Wilcox, director of the United Way of Portage Co., Portage Co. Business Council’s Todd Kuckkahn, Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza, and Plover Village Administrator Dan Mahoney.

To participate, go to www.zoom.us and click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID number 345 425 220, then passcode 011170#. The meeting will begin at about 3 p.m.